James Forrest focused on Celtic double chance rather than contract talks
James Forrest does not want to play for anyone other than Celtic – but he is happy to focus on winning a double ahead of contract talks.
The 34-year-old again showed his worth with a key role off the bench as Celtic beat St Mirren 6-2 to reach the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final.
Forrest skipped past a defender and delivered a perfect cross for Kelechi Iheanacho to put Celtic back in front after Saints had come from two goals down to force extra time.
The winger is Celtic’s most decorated player with 26 major winners’ medals to his name. He does not want to stop there but is focused on the next two.
“I spoke to the club a couple of times, but the main thing I’ve always said is I’ve been here my full career and I don’t want to play anywhere else,” he said.
“The main thing now is helping the team hopefully win the league and we’re in the cup final as well.
“So I’ve made it clear that the main thing is about contributing for the team and then my situation will sort itself out.”
Manager Martin O’Neill called for the board to extend Forrest’s contract beyond the summer after Sunday’s Hampden triumph.
“He’s spoken to me a couple of times in the last couple of months,” said Forrest, who has played more than 550 games for Celtic.
“I just want to be here. But the main thing is that everyone works together and we try and get trophies before the end of the season, and then that will take care of itself.
“I don’t want to be anywhere else, so the club know that. So that will definitely get sorted out whenever. I’m just going to focus on the games just now.”
The final will pit Forrest against the man who gave him his Celtic debut in 2010, Dunfermline manager Neil Lennon, who made his name for Leicester and Celtic under O’Neill.
“It’s unbelievable,” Forrest said. “Obviously, Lennon gave me my debut. I had him in the reserves and had a real good couple of years with him and I still stay in touch with him.
“And then, obviously, Martin O’Neill was a legend of the club and I’d never met him actually until he came this season.
“It would be unbelievable for the club if that was the last game of the season and, whatever he decides to do in the summer, it would be great to go out on a real high for him.”
Forrest believes Celtic’s four-goal haul in six extra-time minutes can help that process as they prepare to host Falkirk on Saturday with a three-point deficit to make up on William Hill Premiership leaders Hearts.
“It’s good for us going into the title run-in,” he said. “We know that we’ve got goals in the locker and hopefully we can kick on from there.
“We just need to keep digging in. We know we’ve got real quality players that can score goals and assist as well.
“We just need to stay together, get everyone in the building on the same page. The fans were great at Hampden and obviously we’ll need them on Saturday as well to try and help push us over the line.”
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