Bring on the Hibs, the Hearts and the Leipzig! The message from Celtic star

FOUR WINS from the next four games would be absolutely huge for Celtic and would set the Double Treble winners on their way to a third ultra successful season under Brendan Rodgers.

The next four games are in three separate competitions, against Hibs on Saturday at Celtic Park in the Scottish Premiership, away to RB Leipzig on Thursday in the Europa League – and that is going to be a tough shift – and then a trip to Edinburgh to play Hearts at the home of Scottish rugby in the Betfred Cup semi-final before Hearts travel the next weekend to Celtic Park on league duty.

After the borefest that Alex McLeish’s Scotland has served up over the past week or so, it is back to proper football now. It’s back to Celtic and these big games.

James Forrest scored four goals in the last Celtic game – away to St Johnstone – and hopefully McLeish hasn’t dampened his spirits too much. Certainly Jamesy is looking forward to getting back to club football and is looking forward to this run of matches. On the two Edinburgh sides currently at the top of the League, he had this to say to the media:

“They deserve to be first and second in the league but we have these league games coming up and that will give us the chance to try and close the gap.

“We have played a lot better ourselves in recent weeks and we just need to push on and come alive in these big games.

“Fair play to them, the pair of them have started really well. They have started brilliantly and that is why both teams are at the top of the table. We know they are both going to be hard matches.

“We have Hibs, Leipzig away and then Hearts. Every couple of games we have big games. These are the games we want to be involved in.”

First up is Hibs, managed by his old boss Neil Lennon, and Forrest rates them highly and was impressed by the Easter Road side’s performances last term in what was their first year back in the top division after a few years in the Championship.

“I think even last season, in their first campaign back up, they did really well. Every time we played them last season we were involved in some tough games. They have lost a few players but they have signed a few more and I expect them to be right up there.

“We are the champions and that makes it harder. Any team that plays us, home or away, they are going to make it difficult. Every team wants to beat us and that never changes but we have the right character in the changing room to deal with that.”

Forrest reckons that there will be some real and genuine challengers this season in what is the most competitive league in years.

“You can see that with the league table and the starts that a lot of teams have made. It is more competitive and it is going to be difficult and we know that it is going to be a tough season. We are aware of that but we have the ability in our changing room, the boys are working hard and I think things are starting to come together now,” the Celtic winger said.

Forrest also recognises the importance of the last win against St Johnstone which sent Celtic into third in the league and closer to Hearts who had lost at Ibrox the same afternoon.

“That was really important going into the international break on the back of that result. All the boys will come back confident and flying and we look forward to getting back to work. I think we are getting back to our form of the last couple of seasons.”

Most folk were left scratching their heads when Alex McLeish – who appears to be out of his depth in this job the second time around – failed to start Forrest in the crucial game in Israel last week. The Celtic man had just scored four goals and as the tired and worn out pun says, he was on fire. Yet so unassuming is James Forrest, he almost looked embarrassed celebrating so much at McDiarmid Park, that he didn’t take the huff with the international manager.

“I was buzzing coming on the other night in Israel in difficult circumstances.

“You work hard and try to play well for your club so you can get into the national squad. So I am buzzing to get playing games for Scotland and I am looking to get in the manager’s plans and to play in more matches under him.

“There is no hiding it has been hard. It has been difficult against Israel and it was hard going. We need to make sure we are ready to take off in the next international break. We need to come back and get a good result in Albania away and that would be good to take us into the second game at home against Israel.

“The defeat in Israel last week wasn’t good and everyone knows that, the players and staff. It is still in our own hands. That is always a good thing. We know if we turn up and look after ourselves we can do it.

“There were a few Celtic boys involved against Portugal and that was good because it brings a bit of familiarity, which is also good. I thought we put in a better performance against Portugal although we were disappointing with the final scoreline.”

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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