James Forrest believes the current Celtic squad is among the best he’s ever been part of and is eager to extend his stay under Brendan Rodgers for another year.
The 33-year-old winger, whose contract expires at the end of the season, has made it clear he wants to remain at Parkhead beyond the summer, buoyed by the success and camaraderie within the team.
Forrest, a stalwart at Celtic for over 15 years, has amassed 24 trophies during his time at the club.
He continues to be an important figure within the squad, featuring off the bench in Celtic’s 5-1 demolition of Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
His next appearance is expected to be in today’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Falkirk.
Reflecting on the current squad, Forrest is convinced that Rodgers has assembled one of the strongest teams he’s ever played in, and he’s keen to be part of it for as long as possible. When asked if this is one of the best squads he’s experienced, Forrest replied: “Aye, I think the manager has recruited well.
“He’s always talked about quality over quantity and he’s definitely got that now. You can see the players he’s signed have already made an impact. That’s great for the players who were already here. It’s good when players come in and really freshen it up. That’s what’s happened so far.”
Despite approaching his mid-30s, Forrest still feels he has plenty to offer. “For myself, the end of last season was really good, I really enjoyed my football. And I’ve enjoyed the start of this one as well,” he said.
“Obviously I’m getting older, but I feel I’ve still got a part to play and I love it here. Being at Celtic, such a massive club – I’ve been here my whole career. I’d love to stay on and that will maybe come into the discussion at some point.”
While he may no longer be a guaranteed starter under Rodgers, Forrest showed in midweek that he can still make a significant contribution in big matches.
His appearance in the Champions League demonstrated his value as Celtic chase more silverware this season.
Forrest remains fully committed to his playing career and has no plans to hang up his boots just yet.
“I’ve started this season feeling good and I haven’t even thought about stopping, to be honest. I’m really enjoying playing just now,” he said.
With Celtic flying high and the squad brimming with positivity, Forrest is determined to play his part in what could be another memorable campaign.
“The squad has a really positive feel about it just now, so I want to keep working hard and play in as many games as I can,” he added.