Pat Bonner claims James Forrest’s development has been ‘phenomenal’ for Celtic following their Scottish Cup win against Aberdeen

Follow us on Google Discover

Celtic are on course to win the treble-treble after they secured their passage to the Scottish Cup final on Sunday afternoon.

BBC Sport pundit Pat Bonner has claimed that the progression of Celtic ace James Forrest has been ‘phenomenal’ after he helped his team beat Aberdeen 3-0 in the Scottish Cup semi-final on Sunday afternoon.

Forrest opened the scoring with a stunning strike on the stroke of half-time with the Dons down to 10 men and they were reduced to nine men after the break.

It was a dominant display from Neil Lennon’s side from the get-go as they will now meet Hearts in the Scottish Cup final next month after they saw off Championship side Inverness on Saturday.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Bonner was in awe of how far Forrest has come in his career as he explained where he has improved in his game.

“The execution [for his goal] was magnificent,” Bonner told BBC Radio Scotland. “Having watched that young man for the last four, five or six years, the development of James Forrest has been phenomenal.

“Do you remember also, I was trying to describe that little habit he had of every time he lost the ball he would bend down and fix his sock, he would flick his hair and he lost his concentration. One of them things that really frustrate me if I was a coach of his. That’s what Brendan Rodgers did with him and changed that.

“For me, his execution of the goal today, and the one against Hibs, that’s what he has added to his game. Magnificent, magnificent!”

Before the final against Hearts, Lennon will be hoping his team can wrap up the Scottish Premiership as quickly as possible as they are very close to securing eight-in-a-row.

Then they will focus their attention on the Scottish Cup final and securing that historic treble-treble with Forrest hoping to be the player to help his team to that mark.

Over the course of the season, he has played 52 games in all competitions, scoring 18 goals and supplying his teammates with 20 assists along the way [transfermarkt].