Aiden McGeady is delighted by the development of James Forrest and believes that the 20-year-old is in no rush to leave Celtic.
Forrest briefly played with McGeady before a £10m move to Spartak Moscow separated the two academy kids but that hasn’t prevented the Irish internationalist from keeping upto date with his old club.
Like most fans McGeady has been impressed by Forrest’s development this season with last week’s performance against Rangers confirming the opinion that he had formed from afar.
”I was at the Old Firm game last week and I thought he was excellent,” McGeady told the Herald. “I watch most Celtic games on the internet and have been following the team closely.
“I believe James has come on massively this season. He can play on either flank, he is quick and has scored goals. It would be difficult not to be impressed.’
”James was training with the first team squad before I left and I always felt he would make it. When players come into contact with the first team they can be quite diffident, not sure of themselves. But James was different. He was confident but without any arrogance.
”He has kicked on massively. He has been handled well, too. He played and then was maybe left out the team to protect him. James has rewarded that patience.”
Speculation and wishful thinking has seen Forrest linked to a couple of Premiership clubs with Spurs reportedly keen on the winger.
It would be strange if any Premiership side wasn’t keeping tabs on Forrest’s development but with a contract until 2016 McGeady believes that Forrest will be at Celtic for a few years to come.
”He will be essential to the team and he will be the best player in the side over the next two to three years,” McGeady added.
“James never struck me as the sort of guy who would have a good season in the first team and want to leave.
“He is a Celtic fan and my impression and hope is that he will stay for a few years. I do not want to tell him how to work out his career, but it would be no bad thing for his progress to stay at Celtic and play regularly.”
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Hail Hail young Aiden, and thanks for the memories. Once a Tim, always a Tim.