Amid all the excitement surrounding James Forrest’s return to the Scotland squad after a three-year absence, the Celtic winger found himself a mere spectator at Euro 2024, not playing a single minute in the tournament.

Forrest did feature in a warm-up friendly against Gibraltar, but that brief appearance was the extent of his international involvement this summer. This was despite Scotland’s clear struggles in generating chances and finding a creative spark in the final third, making them one of the tournament’s least effective attacking teams.

While Forrest might not have been the panacea for Scotland’s offensive woes, many believed he deserved an opportunity to make an impact off the bench in at least one of the three group matches.

Former Scotland hero Kevin Gallacher expressed his sympathy for Forrest’s anti-climactic summer, suggesting that the veteran winger could have shown he still has something to offer on the international stage.

Gallacher, a former forward with 53 caps for Scotland, spoke about Forrest’s situation in the [Sunday Post](30/06 print edition): “When you are an older player, it is the hardest thing to take. You are experienced, you have been through it all before and you are just hoping you get a little chance. Because then people will see what you can do and say there is still life in the old dog.

“That is the way James will have been looking at it. He was there to support the other players and, if a chance had fallen his way, I am sure he would have taken it.

“However, we don’t know what Steve Clarke’s thoughts were. To have given James a game, he might have had to change the shape of the team. That is the kind of thing the manager has to take into consideration.”

Despite the disappointment, Forrest’s experience and veteran presence in the squad were still seen as valuable. However, it is likely that Forrest’s international career may now be drawing to a close.

His future at Celtic also hangs in the balance. Although he played an effective role as a substitute in the latter half of last season, providing manager Brendan Rodgers with a dependable option amid the faltering performances of new signings, there is a sense that Celtic will look to strengthen their wide positions in the transfer market this summer.

Rodgers, known for his pragmatic approach, is unlikely to rush Forrest out of the door without securing quality replacements. Even with just a year left on his contract, it would not be surprising to see Forrest make another significant contribution next season, as he has done so many times before for the Bhoys.