James Forrest Celtic signal goes up just in time for Mr Medals (2025)

Forrest netted for Celtc in their last St Johnstone semi and was on target against Aberdeen a year to the day of latest instalment

James Forrest was the match-winner the last time Celtic sank St Johnstone in a Hampden semi-final.

As Brendan Rodgers demands a late-season spark, it feels an ideal time to set the trophy-laden winger up for a glorious repeat and a final Premiership flourish.

The Celtic boss was peeved in Perth at the lack of thrust at a key time of the season. The time of the season when winners surge through the finishing line.

Take one look at Forrest ’s medal collection of 25. He currently stands just one gong away from moving above Bobby Lennox and becoming Celtic’s most-decorated individual.

You don’t amass his medal haul without being able to perform at the National Stadium.

Saints fans are well aware of it. Just over three years ago, they had their hearts broken and their reign as League Cup holders ended when the wide-man stepped off the bench to win the semi-final with the game’s only only goal and set up Ange Postecoglou to beat Hibs the following month and win the gaffer’s first silverware in Glasgow.

But it’s not just so far in the past. Even last season, Forrest’s return at this key time of the campaign ensured Rodgers got a trophy-ending to his at-times tricky first term back at the club.

As wingers such as Luis Palma stuttered during the run-in, Forrest came into the side after a lengthy absence and lit the spark again.

He was vital as the champions secured the title again and his cameo in the Scottish Cup semi against Aberdeen was key with a goal in the 3-3 draw which ended in Rodgers’ team forging their way to the final via penalties.

That was on April 20, 2024. It will be exactly the same date on Sunday week when Celtic go in against the Saints in 2025.

As Rodgers catalogued his annoyance at McDiarmid Park last Sunday and picked through the bones of a weak display, he would have noted the uplifting contribution of Forrest. The 33-year-old hadn’t been sighted for over three months since helping Celtic beat Rangers at Hampden in the Premier Sports Cup Final when he returned as a sub against Hearts the previous weekend and he stepped up it again in Perth.

Celtic had more verve when he came on. He was denied a leveller by a brilliant save and was thwarted again by Saints No.1 Andy Fisher as he buzzed around in a style that was sadly lacking in Nicolas Kuhn.

The German looks out of sorts at this stage of the term having lit up the first half of the season. At one stage, Kuhn seemed certain to claim the Player of the Year prizes but for whatever reason he is miles off it.

Perhaps it’s fatigue, physical or mental, having been relied upon so heavily through the opening months, but a return of just two goals in his last 17 games says it all, as does the fact he’s been yanked off at half-time in two of the last three matches.

Both were defeats at the hands of Rangers and Saints and tell you the manager isn’t getting his desired contribution.

Kuhn’s dip has coincided with the return of Jota and, although the Portuguese has shown flashes of his old magic, it’s not yet at a sustained level.

Jota was always going to be a work in progress due his lack of action at Rennes. It is highly likely he will get back to his blistering best once he gets a full pre-season under his belt but, at this moment, it’s not the old impact.

Yang Hyun-jun has improved markedly since the turn of the year and has benefited from the belief and coaching of Rodgers.

But the South Korean is not at the level of a regular starter who makes the difference week-on-week with the experience of constantly coming through the scrutiny and pushing powerfully on to a winners’ podium.

With Daizen Maeda flying in the position of central striker to keep Adam Idah nailed on to the subs’ bench for most games since the departure of Kyogo Furuhashi, the Japanese’s speed and talents have been taken off the wing.

It’s why Forrest’s return at this precise point can be so vital to Rodgers and to Celtic when it comes to these final weeks.

With Kilmarnock the visitors to Glasgow’s east end on Saturday in the final Premiership game before the semi with Saints, the door is open for the Scotland star to aid the final push.

He’s already done it for various Parkhead managers and, crucially, for the current gaffer. Twice. It was only last year that Rodgers was describing Forrest as the best winger at the club.

The humble hero will acknowledge the fact that the likes of Kuhn are the ones who mainly did the business and got the squad into their current position on the brink of a Treble.

But it is now time to bring the nous, the character and mentality to confidently take the final steps over the line.

Given he has done it on 25 previous occasions, it’s clear Forrest is just the man for that particular job.