Having been unware of the 500-game milestone he was about to hit, Celtic winger James Forrest now recognises his “great achievement” of reaching that tally.
The 33-year-old had found himself out of the picture and thought he may never play for the club again, but he rejuvenatedĀ hisĀ career at the end of last season.
Emerging from the shadows, Forrest’s fine form helped Celtic win a league and cup double, taking his trophy tally to a staggering 24, behind only Bobby Lennox (25) on the club’s all-time list.
TheĀ veteran wideĀ manĀ playedĀ hisĀ 500thĀ gameĀ forĀ theĀ clubĀ inĀ Sunday’sĀ 3-0Ā winĀ over Rangers
“ToĀ beĀ honestĀ IĀ onlyĀ knewĀ inĀ theĀ lastĀ coupleĀ ofĀ gamesĀ IĀ wasĀ closeĀ toĀ 500,” Forrest said.
“It’sĀ aĀ greatĀ milestone. ObviouslyĀ comingĀ throughĀ theĀ academy hereĀ andĀ makingĀ aĀ 500thĀ appearanceĀ inĀ frontĀ ofĀ yourĀ homeĀ fansĀ inĀ aĀ victory againstĀ yourĀ rivals,Ā itĀ wasĀ aĀ greatĀ dayĀ allĀ round.
“BeingĀ atĀ aĀ clubĀ theĀ sizeĀ ofĀ thisĀ forĀ soĀ longĀ isĀ aĀ greatĀ achievementĀ andĀ I justĀ needĀ toĀ keepĀ workingĀ hardĀ toĀ tryĀ andĀ addĀ toĀ thatĀ nowĀ asĀ well.
“IĀ hadĀ aĀ spellĀ lateĀ JanuaryĀ andĀ FebruaryĀ whenĀ IĀ wasn’tĀ inĀ squadsĀ andĀ I didn’tĀ knowĀ ifĀ IĀ wasĀ everĀ goingĀ toĀ playĀ forĀ CelticĀ again.
“ButĀ whenĀ stuffĀ likeĀ thatĀ happensĀ itĀ makesĀ itĀ evenĀ betterĀ whenĀ youĀ doĀ get achievements.”