Why Forrest should start for Scotland against Germany

"If ever there was an example for young players on how to conduct yourself if things are not going well for you at your club, I think James epitomises that. Train well, work well, keep your head down, keep believing and you never know. Maybe the head coach will pick you for your country again.

"That's what he's done. He's had a fantastic finish to the season and he brings a bit of experience and was part of the squad in the last Euros. It will be nice to see James again. You are always aware of players and obviously, if you are not playing regularly for your club and it was over a period of time it was not a short-term thing.

"He has worked really hard. He has kept his head down and he has caught the manager's eye and he's managed to be another one who has grabbed your attention with the way he has finished the season. You are thinking: 'Wow, James is back to where he was maybe three or four years ago which is a credit to him. It is something that I did not think I could overlook and that is why he is the 28."

The words of Scotland's national team coach Steve Clarke as he explained his decision to include Celtic winger Forrest in his provisional 28-man squad alongside teammates Callum McGregor, Anthony Ralston and Greg Taylor for the 2024 European Championships in Germany which start next month.

Deserved? You best believe it. For the past two months, Forrest has been a role model of consistency. The consummate professional. An inspiration and a shining example to youngsters and all of those around him. A player who has put all of his career experience to good use and reaped the rewards.

He has also caught the eye of the two people that matter most to him. His club manager Brendan Rodgers. His national team manager Clarke. That's no mean feat considering he was out in the cold for a lengthy spell at Celtic and had to watch on as the likes of Luis Palma, Yang Hyun-Jun and Nicolas Kuhn were all given their chance to impress the Northern Irishman and cement a regular first-team berth.

You have to hand it to Rodgers though. Bringing Forrest back into the fold is akin to a managerial masterstroke. Forrest has scored four goals in his last five Premiership and Scottish Cup outings including a crucial brace in a 2-1 win away to Dundee at Dens Park which started the clamour for his inclusion in Clarke's Euro-bound Scotland squad. He also notched a stunning solo goal in the thrilling 3-3 Scottish Cup semi-final draw at Hampden Park against Aberdeen which the champions won on penalties

Ironically Forrest's previous international call-up was back in 2021 when he last represented his country at the Euros. It's funny how it has all come full circle, isn't it? The best winger at the club raved Rodgers in March. He's not wrong. The 51-year-old said: "It gives me real satisfaction seeing him go in there and play, and the trust with James in terms of when he has the ball, he looks after the ball, he's creative, he's bright.

"When you have teams that pin back and you have a lot of the ball, he gives you that level of quality you want, and he was absolutely brilliant when he came on. He's been a brilliant servant of the club, and of course, it's probably been difficult for him the last couple of years, playing maybe less than he wants.

"I've always said in terms of quality and wing play, he's our best winger."

READ MORE: Why James Forrest is statistically Celtic's best winger

Our erstwhile TCW colleague Alan Morrison also crunched the numbers and data as the stats bore Rodgers's truth out as well.

As Morrison duly noted: "Forrest completes more passes than the other wide players (37.72) and is the only one to achieve 80 per cent pass completion. His cross success of 20 per cent is higher than all other wingers – Palma’s is 16 per cent. He also places more balls into the opposition danger zone (1.46) more often than all but Palma whose total is inflated by set-piece delivery.

"In terms of a goal threat, he ranks second amongst his peers for touches in the box (8.17). He ranks first in total shots attempted (4.59) and equal second in shot quality (0.15 xG per shot attempted). His overall xG of 0.67 is much higher than all the other wingers with the nearest being Palma on 0.47 which falls to 0.33 when you remove penalties.

"Perhaps crucially, and back to decision-making, it is what professionals like to call the “cleanness” of his play. He is rarely wasteful in possession. He is dispossessed 2.8 times per game, less than the other peers. He has fewer unsuccessful crosses and fewer incomplete dribbles. Forrest loses the ball 5.37 times in the final third which is nearly half the rate of Yang, Kuhn and Palma and lower than Maeda (5.81)."

READ MORE: How James Forrest almost left Celtic before his resurgence helped seal the title

Empirical data? Eye-test? It doesn't matter which Forrest you are currently watching. Rodgers, Clarke, and the Celtic supporters all see the same thing. There is plenty of life left in the 32-year-old dog on the wing yet. Not bad for a player who admitted he almost quit the club in January.

Forrest said:  "I did speak to the manager a couple of times, and it was mainly just about getting that chance. Sometimes it does come along, and I have managed to take it. Celtic has always been my number one and I love playing here and winning stuff. It’s unbelievable, but I am at an age where I want to play. I’m not 35 or 36.

“It was a discussion I had with the club, but I was glad when the window shut and that was out of the way. I was going to be here, and my focus was to work hard and hopefully get a chance.

“You never know how things are going to turn out, but it’s been unbelievable. The last few months have been incredible for me. Hopefully, the final goes well too. I have always appreciated being here and I have always loved it. There will be a time, if I did retire or whatever happens, that I’ll look back.

“Celtic will always be a part of me and it’s great to look back on so many highs and positives.”

He gained his 23rd winners medal of his career at Rugby Park last midweek as Celtic clinched the Scottish Premiership title in style with a 5-0 win over Kilmarnock. Forrest notched his seventh goal of the season. He's two winners gongs short of equalling Lisbon Lions Bobby Lennox's incredible haul of 25. On Saturday at Hampden Park in the Scottish Cup final against Rangers Forrest could make it 24.

Few would bet against him achieving that milestone in a career that is as remarkable for its longevity as anything else and shows no signs of abating. What a comeback it has been for Forrest. The renaissance in his Celtic career this season has been an absolute joy to watch. Little did the Celtic supporters know that two redemption stories would run concurrently at the club this season. Rodgers got his managerial redemption story at club level. Forrest got his redemption shot at international level.

You would have gotten a pretty penny if you had placed a wager at the start of the campaign stating that Forrest would be one of the names on the plane heading for the Euros. Fair play to Rodgers and Clarke who have both rewarded Forrest's irresistible form this season.

Forrest kept believing. Forrest kept his head down and lo and behold Forrest got picked for the national team again. Forrest remains evergreen. Forrest's resurgence helped Celtic seal the title. Could he now help Clarke and his Scotland side create a massive piece of national team history by going beyond the group stages of a major international finals tournament for the first time?

"James Forrest, where do you start?"

Well, Clarke could start by playing Forrest from the start on the wing against Germany in the Munich Football Arena on June 14. Now that would be a start.