Celtic boss Neil Lennon wants to make ‘magnificent’ James Forrest a Bhoy for life

Celtic are set to hand James Forrest the opportunity to become one of the modern game’s few one-club players.

The Scotland internationalist, a graduate of the Celtic Academy, signed a new deal with the Hoops just last autumn to take him to the summer of 2022.

However, his successful reunion with Neil Lennon, his former development coach who gave him his first run in the senior side way back in 2010, has prompted the two men to plot an even longer-term arrangement.

“James is a top, top player, who, from the day I first saw him until now, has been magnificent for the club,” said boss Lennon.

“He’s from a humble background and is a guy who just wants to play football. But he has achieved so much.

“He has been Player of the Year, a treble-Treble winner, played in the Champions League, and was International Player of the Year for Scotland. Year in, year out, he has produced.

“And he still has that desire, the hunger. He wants to extend his contract, which is great.

“Rather than talking about people leaving the club, we’ve got one there who wants to stay. So that’s one we’ll look at.

“I think he’s still got three years left on his deal, but we’ve already talked about an extension. Well, myself and James have!”

As the Celtic manager pointed out, things haven’t always gone smoothly, with the 28-year-old making fewer appearances in the two seasons of 2013-14 and 2014-15 combined than he did in 2018-19.

“I think he got a bit maligned a little bit for a spell or two. But, over the last few seasons, he’s really matured into a top-quality player,” Lennon went on.

“He could go and play anywhere. But
I’m glad we have him. He’s a brilliant player and I’ve never hidden my admiration for him.

“I had him in the development team and he was the stand-out player back then.

“You could see him as a first-team player within a month or so, with his temperament and ability.

“He’s made the most of it and there’s more to come from him. At 28, he’s at his peak.

“We maybe have to manage him and give him a rest here and there. But, when he plays, he really plays. He’s an outstanding player.

“But physically he looks great. He’s got strong thighs and shoulders, quite broad but compact. And he’s still got that great burst of pace.

“The quality and speed of his technique is superb and he’s a good finisher when he’s in there as well. He does everything very cleanly.”

Intriguingly, those steps to manage his contribution may also involve a move in from the wing to a No. 10 role.

It is a position he has occupied for Lennon before, mostly recently in the pre-season tour of Switzerland and Austria, and the Irishman has been impressed enough to consider it as a serious option for the future.

“As James goes on, he may need to evolve his game in a different position,” the manager revealed. “He may need to play inside as he gets older, that’s something we’ll look at.

“He’s two-footed, quick and he can get on the half-turn in those inside positions to break the lines, rather than just doing the long running all the time in the winger’s position.

“He can play right and left – he played on the left in my first spell here. If people are getting too wise to him, can he develop his game for different positions? Of course he can, because he’s got the talent.

“I stuck him in the 10 position away to Hibs and he scored a wonder goal.

“He had a hell of a season last year, in terms of games as well, and fatigue started to kick in towards the end. That’s something we have to be mindful of.

“He is at his peak, though, and won’t averse to being flexible about where we want him to play.”