Ange makes winger promise

Ange Postecoglou has no doubt that James Forrest has a big role to play in the season ahead at Celtic. 

The winger has been an unused substitute in Celtic’s first two matches of the season with Jota the first choice while Daizen Maeda and Liel Abada compete for a place. 

Forrest’s influence has been greatly reduced over the last two years due to injury but now that he has the all-clear he finds competition for places tougher than ever. 

Celtic won’t play their first midweek match until August 31 when they visit Ross County in the League Cup but from that date through to the World Cup break the fixtures come thick and fast. 

Speaking to The Sun, Postecoglou said: 

James has been at this club for a very long time. If you asked him if he’s ever felt he was guaranteed a spot in this team, or this club didn’t have more than two great wingers, I’d be very, very surprised. I don’t think anything has changed for him. 

Yeah, it’s a challenge at the moment getting game time, but the reason we kept him on last year and re-signed him is because I still think there’s value in him. 

He’s an experienced guy and he still has the skill-set and temperament to perform at the highest level and he’s training really well. 

Forrest is the only Celtic winger with experience of the plastic pitch that the hoops play on at Kilmarnock today. 

Back in October 2011 he inspired an epic comeback from 3-0 down at half-time to secure a point with Neil Lennon considering resignation at the interval.