Celtic have confirmed that James Forrest will unfurl the league flag as the club get their Scottish Premiership campaign underway against Ross County this weekend.
The legendary Hoops winger is receiving a testimonial fixture tonight against Athletic Club and he will be further rewarded with the flag honours on Saturday.
A club statement announced: "Celtic Park will host another Flag Day this Saturday when the Hoops play Ross County on the opening day of the new cinch Premiership season.
"And James Forrest will have the honour of unfurling the flag ahead of the game at a packed-out Paradise in the same week that a testimonial match is being held for him at Celtic Park.
"On Saturday, before Brendan Rodgers’ side kick off the defence of the league title against Ross County, there will be an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate last season’s title triumph when the league flag is raised, and it is fitting that James Forrest will take centre-stage for the ceremony."
Forrest has played 467 times for Celtic since making a goalscoring debut back in May 2010. He has since gone on to score a total of 101 goals for the Hoops and provided over 100 assists as well, an impressive feat that only a handful of other Celts have achieved.
In the past 13 years, he has also amassed 22 major trophies, which includes last season’s historic treble, the eighth in the club’s history, and Forrest has been involved in five of those treble triumphs. And last season's title success was also Forrest's 11th league winner's medal as a Celt.
Meanwhile, assistant John Kennedy has hailed Forrest's career at Celtic to date ahead of tonight's testimonial fixture.
Kennedy said: “For someone who has achieved so much in the game, you would never know it from speaking to him, he never bigs himself up in any way. He has a lot of humility around him.
“He is such a professional guy, one of the first in every day. He does everything properly to make sure he is ready for games and training and that’s why he has been at this club for such a long time and had great success.
“He is a hell of a professional and one that all the guys can learn from and look up to. This game will be a great occasion for everybody to come together and recognise what he has given to Celtic.
“When he hangs up his boots, in 10, 20, 30 years’ time, when people look at the lists of the legends for Celtic, they will realise how big a player he was and what he achieved was certainly greatness.
“Because he is so professional, he is in very good shape and still able to produce great moments, so he will certainly be an important player going forward.”
