James Forrest given no special Celtic treatment by Brendan Rodgers as he plays down 'head start' on teammates

James Forrest knows Brendan Rodgers got the best out of him last time round when the manager gave his Celtic career a turbo boost. But the Hoops ace reckons he still has to prove himself all over again to the returning boss.

Forrest is among the most decorated Parkhead stars ever with an incredible 22 medals in a glittering career at the club. And he was flying under Rodgers as he won back-to-back Trebles and then went on to secure a stunning triple of his own with a clean sweep of individual awards in 2019. Not bad for a lad who looked to be on his way out of his boyhood club when Rodgers first marched in the door.

Forrest won over the manager back then to become one of his main men – but the wide man insisted he’ll have to win Rodgers over all over again now the Northern Irishman is back. Forrest doesn’t believe he’s got a head start on others and said: “You can’t think like that. As much as he knows me, he’s going to do what’s best for the team. The club has been buzzing after all the success Ange Postecoglou had.

“There’s been such a good feeling around the place in the last few years. When he left it was difficult but then the gaffer came back in and he’s someone who’s had unbelievable success here himself. The club have done unreal in picking the gaffer to come back.”

Forrest will go again but there’s no doubt he couldn’t have wished for a better manager to walk through the door following Postecoglou’s departure.

The Scotland star is looking forward to his testimonial against Athletic Bilbao next week but it could have all been so different. Forrest was linked with moves away from Celts in the summer of 2016 but Rodgers marched in and quickly knew he had a player on his hands.

The boss helped take his game to