Celtic’s James Forrest is one of the Hoops’ most improved players under Brendan Rodgers.
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has suggested to The Glasgow Evening Times that even he didn’t realise how much James Forrest had improved until he heard a statistic about the star winger.
The 26-year-old scored in Celtic’s 2-0 win over Motherwell in the League Cup final last month to become the first Hoops player to score in three winning finals since Bobby Lennox.
The legendary Scot managed 21 years at Parkhead across two different spells, before hanging up his boots in 1981.
Forrest also scored a brace in Saturday’s 5-1 demolition of Motherwell to reach double figures for the first time in his seven-year stint in Glasgow – a stat which only emphasises his improvement under Rodgers.
But even the Northern Irishman admits he didn’t quite realise just how important he has become until he heard the statistic about his record-equalling goals in finals.
He told The Glasgow Evening Times: “I really think that Celtic supporters should really be enjoying watching him now.
“He’s won, what, 12 trophies now? The stat that really hit me was the Bobby Lennox one. Everyone knows the esteem in which Bobby Lennox is held in.
“So for his record not to have been equalled up until James, really shows the level in which the kid is playing at.”
Forrest is sure to start Celtic’s visit of Anderlecht tonight as the Hoops look to book their spot in the Europa League knockout phases next year by avoiding a three-goal defeat.
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