HE'S A NOT SO OLD FIRM FAVOURITE

Jota laughs off the notion Forrest is a veteran at 33

- By Andy Newport

HE won't do his fellow Celtic winger dirty by placing James Forrest in the “veteran” bracket.

But Jota reckons his team-mate, who turns 34 in July, has wisdom beyond his years after cleaning up in Scottish football throughout a silverware-laden career.

Forrest is about to bring the curtain down on a remarkable 16th season as a Parkhead first-teamer that will see him clinch a 13th league title to nudge clear of Bobby Lennox at the top of the club’s list of medal winners.

Should the Hoops complete yet another treble with victory in next month’s Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen, the wideman will have a 27th prize to sling on to the heaving pile as he is crowned the most decorated servant ever to pull on a green and white jersey.

Yet for all his longevity, there's no sign of the grey hairs that have swept across the head of captain Callum McGregor nor even a hint of a wrinkle.

No wonder Jota isn’t entertaining any suggestion that his colleague is reaching the twilight of his footballing days.

But he was happy to accept that Forrest, with 39 Scotland caps to his name, has become the sage old head in the dressing room and a fountain of knowledge.

Put simply, few others know better than this one-club man what it takes to succeed with Celtic year after year.

Smiling, the Portuguese ace said: “Come on, he’s not that old - 33 is the new 22! Don’t do him like that!