There has been a lot of talk about Celtic winger James Forrest this season, and there is certainly an argument to be made that he has been both the Hoops’ best and key player behind Scott Brown over the 2017/18 campaign.
Due to the quality throughout the team, this was an unlikely scenario at the start of the season. With the return of Manchester City hero Patrick Roberts, it looked as if Forrest would have to settle for a place on the bench.
However, Forrest got his chance after Roberts suffered a hamstring injury – leading to the winger outperforming the Bhoys loanee.
Forrest’s hat trick against Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup fifth round and his goal in the Scottish League Cup final are just some of the examples of how far he has come under boss Brendan Rodgers.
Not only is he a match winner, but he is now becoming a rare breed of reliable wide man who, more often than not, delivers. The 26-year-old is now one of Celtic’s most influential stars, and he progressively grown into an impressive and consistent performer who is now one of the first names on the Celtic team sheet.
This is not good news for Roberts who has now said that he will be leaving the club this summer to have a crack in the Premier League down south.
Having been slowly replaced by Forrest because of his superb form, Roberts never really got the first-team constant football it was understood he would get coming back to Parkhead. But with him being injured and Forrest getting better each week, his growth seemed inevitable and Forrest stepped up his game.
Letting Roberts – who is a very skilled player – go because of the talent Celtic have in their squad already shows how strong and skilled the players are and the calibre of players that the Hoops are aiming for.
Celtic have a fine squad and a brilliant manager who is always one step ahead, and with a little more luck they could make real waves in Europe, with Forrest likely to be integral throughout.
So, if Forrest is just the starting point in showing the quality of players the Hoops are looking for, then who else could Rodgers sign that meets that benchmark and replace Roberts?
Spanish winger Bojan Krkić could be a possible option. Celtic’s midfield tends to be populated by diminutive, technically gifted players that have pace, including Forrest, Stuart Armstrong and Callum McGregor. It’s their skill, invention and verve that is core to Rodger’s tactics and Bojan would suit this style of play.
The 27-year-old former Barcelona graduate has spent the second half of this season on loan in the German Bundesliga with Mainz, which suggests that he is no longer needed by Stoke and therefore a hypothetically realistic target.
His touch and creativity would mean he would fit in perfectly with the Scottish champions and adds that bit of extra class.
Still, even in the unlikely event that Celtic don’t sign anyone over summer, the fact they are willing to let Roberts go knowing they have enough talent in the wings without him says enough. Especially since most people would have dreaded the thought without the Man City star in the team this time last season.
When comparing Roberts with Forrest over the past two seasons, Forrest’s growth is even more evident. Last season, Roberts had 47 appearances for the Hoops and scored a total of 11 goals across Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup and Champions League matches. Forrest, on the other hand, made 50 appearances with only eight goals.
This season, Roberts has made 19 appearances for the Bhoys and netted the ball only once which was in 3-0 win against Anderlecht in Champions League in Belgium. Forrest has made 62 appearances for Celtic over the 2017/18 campaign and has scored 17 times.
With Roberts on injury, it is clear that Forrest upped his game to ensure he did not lose his place to a player whose future in the club wasn’t certain.
Even his overall rating has increased, for the two players playing in the same position Forrest has a rating of 6.88, whereas Roberts is sitting at 6.79.
If Forrest is just an example of what Celtic are aiming for then we still have a lot to see from the Hoops.
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