James Forrest insists Mikael Lustig remains an important player for Celtic

JAMES FORREST has warned Celtic fans not to write off Mikael Lustig ahead of time.

In what was a generally quiet January transfer window, the Hoops’ recruitment of highly-rated right-back Jeremy Toljan – on loan from the Bundeslia-topping Borussia Dortmund – raised eyebrows.

Lustig, the man in possession of the jersey, is out of contract in the summer.

The club are now exercising their right to run down the clock before deciding whether to take up the option in their favour of keeping him on for another year.

With the Swede now 32, plenty of supporters have speculated the seven-year-itch might be about work against him, and that boss Brendan Rodgers will look to make a change.

Forrest, one of the handful of Celts who were already on the premises when Lustig arrived from Rosenborg in 2012, argues it would be foolish to overlook the qualities of a man who has 73 caps for his country and has helped his current employers win 14 trophies.

“What Mika has done for Celtic has been top class,” said Forrest.

“He is a top professional, and has been a great player for Sweden at international level, too.

“I think he is still as fit as he has been, and he has been contributing the assists as ever.

“His confidence is high just now, and I think the clean sheets over the last few weeks have helped.

“I don’t know what he is going to do at the end of the season, but I hope he stays.

“Since he came in, he has helped me. Defensively, it’s great for me to know he is behind me.

“He gives us good cover on that right side, and he can also play centre-back, too.

“Whatever winger plays out there, it’s good to know he is there to help.”

Forrest has little concern about his team-mate coping with the flak which has been aimed in his direction from the stands this season.

“Mika is a strong character,” the 27-year-old continued. “I don’t think he will be too bothered by any criticism.

“Mika will just keep battling and wanting to play.

“He will keep fighting to stay at a big club like Celtic and all the boys want him to stay as well.

“It will be up to him and the club at the end of the day.

“But he is a big character in the changing-room, as well as on the park.

“Scott Brown and Mika are the two biggest characters in the changing-room, and on the park they both help the young boys.

“It is the same at training. I think they are really important to the team.”

The Scotland internationalist is even more relaxed about the long-term implications of Celtic signing Maryan Shved, the Ukrainian winger who was straight away returned to Karpaty Lviv on loan.

“Celtic have loads of players for every position, and the club is always looking to strengthen,” Forrest continued.

“No player is allowed to get comfortable here, and think they can relax just because they have a contract.

“Players need to push. You can’t expect to go unchallenged.

“The manager has always said that is when you get complacent – and that’s when you will start to come out of the team.”

The competition for places at Celtic Park will, Forrest expects, have a beneficial spin-off for Scotland, with Oliver Burke likely to soon be forcing his way back into national side.

Signed on loan from West Brom at the start of the year, Burke has already found the net twice in his three appearances in the Hoops.

“Ollie was really young when he first came into the Scotland set-up and you can you see the difference,” Forrest pointed out.

“He hasn’t really been involved for the past year-and-a-half. But, even in Dubai, you could see that he looks stronger and quicker.

“He will be thinking that by coming up here and scoring goals, he will put himself into Scotland contention along with all the other boys at Celtic.”