The Real Deal

Having James Forrest on the books really is like signing a new player at the start of every season

- Joe Sullivan

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WITH the ink barely dry on his new four-year contract, James Forrest celebrated in the best possible way by netting the goal that sealed another three points in last midweek’s 2-0 win over St Mirren.

Just hours after stating: “You need to be on top of your game to play here!”, the winger helped the team come out on top as his 53rd-minute strike put the tin lid on a day to remember for the Celt in a Hoops career jam-packed with memories.

The new four-year deal will keep the 28-year-old at the club until at least the summer of 2023 – and he has no plans on moving anywhere else after that.

The deal will take him to over two decades as a Celt after he joined the Academy set-up while still at primary school. The player admits he never dreamed about being with the club for 20 years, but that he has never ever thought about leaving either.

He said: “You never think that when you’re a young boy at Celtic. You just focus on every year as it happens at the time, but once you get a wee bit older you really appreciate it. It’s unbelievable to have been here for so long, and I’m just going to keep working hard to stay here as long as I can. “I’ve never thought my time was up either, even though when you are playing with Celtic, there are so many good players in the squad, and the club is always looking to sign so many players.

“So it’s always hard and you need to be on top of your game to play here and stay at such a big club. Over the length of my career, there’s only been one occasion when my contract ran down to six months and it’s always been good when I’ve extended my stay and I’ve always felt settled here, it’s a great place to be.”