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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Joe Donnelly

Brendan Rodgers hails James Forrest: 'He deserves a song'

Brendan Rodgers cut a proud figure at Rugby Park this week, when the travelling support belted out his name after his side had clinched the Scottish Premiership against Kilmarnock.

Afterwards, the Irishman joked that he thought the fans had forgotten his name - but was delighted to bond with the crowd following his side's emphatic 5-0 win over Derek McIness' men.

One of this season's standout heroes for Celtic is a familiar face in James Forrest, having forced his way back into the Hoops' starting 11 with a string of top performances and goals.

The 32-year-old netted Celtic's third of the night in Ayrshire, and by winning the league has drawn level with the club's greatest ever captain Billy McNeill in major honours won.

Forrest, in fact, is now just two medals away from equalling Bobby Lennox as the most decorated Celtic player; three away from being the most decorated of all-time.

Still, the midfielder, now on the cusp of completing his 15th season at the Scottish champions, does not have his own dedicated song - despite the Paradise faithful's broad repertoire of player-focused anthems.

All of which begs the question: what does Forrest need to do to get a song of his own? 

"He needs to beat Billy McNeill’s record!" Rodgers joked. "If he does that, he might get a song.

"No, I’m surprised he doesn’t have one. There are clever guys in the stands who make up the words. He certainly deserves it. What a player, he’s been absolutely magnificent for us.

"His record is remarkable. The likes of him and Callum are stalwarts for this club, they do their talking on the pitch and class acts off it.

"They are real ambassadors for the club."



The Celtic manager then reflected on the character of Forrest, as a player and dressing room figure, from today right back to when the Irishman first took charge of the Parkhead side in 2016. 

He added: "Looking back to when I [first] came in and he was maybe on the way out. He was outstanding in that period. He’s maybe not played as much since I came back, with younger guys taking his place.

"You have to give them a chance. But you quickly come to the conclusion he’s our best winger. 

"Okay, he may not be able to do some of the things he did six or seven years ago, but there’s a lot he can do and we’ve seen that in this last period.

"He’s been a real catalyst for this team. All the experienced players have been, they’ve really taken the games by the scruff of the neck."

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