Celtic winger James Forrest could still have a role to play at Parkhead ahead of next season with the future of Jota in doubt.
This is according to journalist Sean Martin who was speaking on The Celtic Way YouTube channel to discuss the future of both Jota and Forrest.
Should Celtic keep Forrest for next season?
Yes
No
Jota has made a real impression at Celtic Park since signing on loan in the summer with eight goals and nine assists in the Scottish Premiership this season.
However, there has been no real indication his future may lie at Parkhead despite the Bhoys holding the option to buy the winger for a reported £6m.
And Martin believes Forrest – who has made just eight starts in the league this season – could come into the Ange Postecoglou’s plans for next season if Jota does not sign permanently:
(20:30) “I think he could fit into a kind of more of a squad role and less of a less of an undroppable player.”
“I think he still has a role to play. I think writing him off and saying he should be shipped out in the summer is probably going too far. Given especially actually given the Jota situation where it’s not a given that he will be coming back.”
TIF Thoughts on Martin’s comments…
Forrest has been hindered by injuries this season with a knee issue making him unavailable for a large number of games in the early stages of the campaign.
However, he has not exactly been able to hit the ground running when he has returned to the XI with just one goal and one assist in the top flight – the assist coming in August.
The most damning stat is the 13 appearances between his assist and goal which saw the 30-year-old fail to provide any goal involvement in the Scottish Premiership.
However, in the 2019/20 campaign, the last season Forrest played over 20 league games, the winger did impress having found the back of the net 10 times and provided 17 assists.
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