HE is a man of few words, so we’ll let the numbers do the talking for James Forrest’s Celtic career.
461 appearances, 101 goals, and no fewer than 22 major honours, quite a haul for the most reluctant of heroes. 11 of those are league titles, and he played a part in every one of the nine which were won consecutively. Signed as a hopeful young kid at just 13, Forrest is now 31 and a mainstay of a near-unprecedented era of success for the Parkhead club.
It’s for that reason that the supporters who savoured every moment of that success rose as one to appreciate an arguably underappreciated figure in his testimonial night against Athletic Club. His team-mates even delivered a 3-2 victory for him, twice coming from behind with goals from Reo Hatate, Alexandro Bernabei and David Turnbull lighting up the occasion.
Here are five talking points from Celtic Park.
Tribute to a legend
Tens of thousands of people here just to see him, a historic club flown in from the Basque Country for the occasion – you got the feeling none of this was really James Forrest’s thing. When asked to share a tale or two from the winger’s illustrious Celtic career earlier, assistant manager John Kennedy didn’t really have one to share.
But going quietly about his business every single day seems to be no small part in Forrest’s longevity. He hasn’t always been the most fashionable Celtic player, with bigger names and more expensive names hogging the limelight. But there is simply no arguing with Forrest’s record as the joint-third most decorated player in Celtic’s history.
At the rate they hoard trophies here these days, it’s very possible he could surpass Bobby Lennox at the top of the tree before he finally calls it a day. Either way, he’s already a Celtic legend, and it was fitting to see supporters turn out in healthy numbers for the occasion, albeit the Green Brigade curiously chose to stay away.
Final preparations
Amid the deserved fanfare, there was the more serious business of this being Celtic’s final outing before their Premiership title defence gets under way at home to Ross County on Saturday. There was a rapturous reception for Brendan Rodgers upon his emergence from the tunnel, the first time he has stepped out here as manager since 2019, but the real homecoming will be this weekend when the points and prizes go back on the line.
It's a little difficult to gauge where his team are at, truth be told. With an XI closer to what you’d expect to be first choice fielded in the opening period, Celtic were error-strewn and a little disjointed. Reo Hatate surrendered possession in the second minute and was ruthlessly punished by Unai Gomez drilling into the bottom corner from distance.
Hatate atoned for his error with a similarly classy finish eight minutes before the interval, shaping one into the corner from 20 yards. The Celtic Park crowd had barely had time to sit back down by the time Iker Muniain restored Athletic Club’s lead with a sensational finish which clipped the woodwork on its way in.
A more unfamiliar Celtic side was fielded for the second-half, one that turned the game on its head with goals from Alexandro Bernabei and David Turnbull. Bernabei’s was lovely to watch, driving a pass at Turnbull to turn it on to O’Riley, who then fed the advancing left-back to slot under Unai Simon.
It was then Turnbull’s turn to apply the finish, taking up a clever position near the penalty spot to sweep Oh Hyeun-gyu’s cut-back high into the net.
Carter-Vickers returns
There was a considerable degree of alarm among Celtic fans in Dublin last weekend when their centre-back pairing just a week before the season started consisted of a player who spent last season on-loan at Aberdeen, and the other missed much of it through injury.
Neither Liam Scales nor Stephen Welsh let anybody down in the draw with Wolves, but with the real stuff only days away, supporters do get jittery when their first choice favourites are not involved. Cameron Carter-Vickers has been out of action since may, with Celtic taking the decision to send the defender for knee surgery which would ensure he returned for the new campaign.
And, just as planned, here he was, slotting back into the backline he marshalled so fearsomely last season. Make no mistake, it is a real boost for Celtic, and with Carl Starfelt back on the bench as well, they could be back at full central defensive strength come 12.30pm on Saturday.
Muniain’s class
My earliest memory of Iker Muniain was wondering who on earth was this young kid tearing Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United to shreds in the Europa League back in 2012. Then only 19, he looked ready to set the world alight.
United were later credited with an interest in him - and later did sign his colleague Ander Herrera, who came on in the second half here - but Muniain went on to emerge as that rarest of things in modern football: a one club man. An appropriate guest at a celebration of Forrest’s career, he spoke to Herald Sport pre-match about what it takes to enjoy such longevity at a single club in today’s game.
Being immensely talented obviously helps, something we were starkly reminded of when Muniain robbed an indecisive Tomoki Iwata before cutting inside and smashing a sumptuous finish in off Benjamin Siegrist’s crossbar. So excellent was it, the goal even drew applause from the Celtic fans.
Mixed debut fortunes
It would be grossly unfair to make a snap judgment on the signing of Kwon Hyeok-kyu after just one start, but it’s fair to say the South Korean midfielder’s first outing at Celtic Park was marred by a bad case of nerves. Kwon looked thoroughly uncomfortable under any sort of pressure, being dispossessed several times in the opening half.
There was also a first outing for centre-back Maik Nawrocki, who looked especially comfortable in possession, as well as coping well defensively against a dangerous visiting attack.
Rodgers switched his entire XI for the second period, whereby it was then the turn of Odin Thiago Holm and Yang Hyun-jun to experience Celtic Park for the first time. Holm is certainly a composed figure in possession, unflustered under stress and evidently fleet of thought.
On the flank, Yang was eager to impress, perhaps a little too much so at times. But they do a appreciate a talented winger here, just ask James Forrest.
