Celtic are currently going through a rough patch, but there is some positive news coming their way. The club has announced that James Forrest has signed a new four-year deal which will keep him at the club until 2022. The 27-year-old winger is currently one of the most important attacking players the Hoops have, and his role has increased further after the Bhoys lost some crucial players in the summer transfer window. So it was imperative for the club to keep hold of Forrest who said that there is no other club he would rather be at right now.
The winger joined Celtic when he was just nine and has slowly gone up the ranks at the club with 2010 being his breakthrough year. In this time, Forrest has managed over 300 appearances for the Scottish giants. As Forrest entered the final year of his contract, fans would have been worried about the future of their academy product, but the latest news would undoubtedly be music to their ears.
After signing the deal, the winger was delighted and was quoted as saying,” From the first moment that I knew Celtic wanted to extend my deal, I knew this was what I wanted to do and there’s no other place for me. It’s unbelievable when you think about how long I’ve been here. Coming through the youth academy, all I wanted to do was make my debut in the first-team, and I was able to do that, but I could never think then that I’d go on to play the number of games that I have. I’m 27 now and I want to keep working hard, play as many games as I can and contribute as much as I can to this club.”
Forrest has managed 57 goals and 57 assists so far in his career and he has often played as a right-winger. He had also proven his versatility, by filling in various positions when his side needed him to. Forrest is easily one of the fastest players for the Hoops and with his experience, is currently a crucial part of Rodgers’ squad.
The manager needs him and others around him to step up in the absence of Patrick Roberts and Moussa Dembele who the Bhoys lost in the summer. Celtic have failed to replicate the free-flowing football which they were used to under Brendan Rodgers recently. So, this is the time when experienced, and homegrown players need to step up and show the fans that they can cope without some of their stars.
The 27-year-old has already contributed with seven assists and two goals this season and Rodgers would want him to continue the excellent work. It was a no-brainer for the club to give him a new deal and the player also didn’t have any hesitation in committing his future up until 2022 at Celtic Park.
