Celtic’s James Forrest is looking forward to a long-term future at the club.
Celtic’s James Forrest has told reporters how boss Brendan Rodgers gave him a vote of confidence in the summer amid plenty of speculation over his future at the club, Herald Scotland report.
The 25-year-old is a Celtic academy product, coming up through the youth ranks and going on to make over 100 appearances for the Hoops since making his debut in the 2009-10 season.
However, questions were raised over his future at the end of last summer as an injury-hit campaign resulted in just 16 league appearances under former boss Ronny Delia.
Many felt Forrest’s time at Celtic Park was drawing to a close, yet a vote of confidence from newly-appointed boss Rodgers gave the player a lift as he tells reporters of his relief at now signing a new deal.
“He (Rodgers) phoned me in the off season and said he’d seen me play before and liked the way I’d played. We’ve a top class manager here as well. When he came in everyone had a clean slate. I’m impressed (with him) so far and just want to keep going,” Forrest told Herald Scotland.
On his contract, he added: “Nothing’s ever changed for me. I’ve always said I wanted to stay here. I’ve been here since I was nine and never wanted to leave. I made the club know that straight away.”
Forrest can play in a number of positions in the final third, and thus far under Rodgers he has supported striker Leigh Griffiths in a position either side offering great width.
He has made an excellent start in the Scottish Premiership, firing Celtic ahead as they defeated fellow challengers Hearts 2-1 last weekend at Tynecastle.
Forrest will have a number of exciting players such as Scott Sinclair and Moussa Dembele for competition, and now it will be to him to prove to Rodgers he deserves to be a Celtic regular.
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