Celtic pretenders have left Brendan Rodgers with one option who has nous and bottle in pressurised scenarios

James Forrest would probably not even be involved if some of the younger pretenders had fully stepped up to the mark.

And while Nicolas Kuhn was again showing signs he can finally offer a consistent answer, the sight of his experienced back-up also scoring – with a sweet strike – offered a positive and reassuring sight for Celtic. Forrest had his testimonial last August and, with the various new arrivals moving into the club, has had to settle for a back-seat role.

Marco Tilio signed from Australia. Hyunjun Yang from South Korea. Luis Palma arrived and Mikey Johnston returned from a loan in Portugal. With Daizen Maeda and Liel Abada already in the squad, Forrest sank down the pecking order. Yet, with eight massive matches to come in the title race and – potentially two more trips to Hampden to try and lift a Scottish Cup – Brendan Rodgers could still lean upon him at key times. Tillo, Johnston and Abada are gone. Palma and Yang have been inconsistent.

Forrest seems to have been around forever but the facts are he is still only 32 and that’s hardly a pensionable age in football. When the international break ends, it’ll be a flat-out sprint for the winning line and the younger legs of Kuhn, Maeda, Palma and Yang will need to drive and produce.

But, with nerves always shredded down a tight final stretch, wise-heads and know-how are also a valuable commodity. Managers relish having individuals within their group who know what it takes to step over that winning line.

Kuhn, Palma and Yang have never taken those steps at Celtic, whereas no one inside the building has done it more than Forrest. If anyone knows how to win medals, it’s the guy who has 22 of them.

Forrest won’t be front and centre. Of course it’ll be smaller