Leigh Griffiths reveals Celtic texts with Ange and insists Jota transfer won't keep long serving club hero down

Leigh Griffiths insists James Forrest will remain Celtic’s wing king regardless of whether Jota commits his future to the club. The former Hoops striker believes his old team-mate is still the best service provider at Parkhead and can steal the thunder from the Portuguese star.

Jota has yet to sign a permanent deal from Benfica after stealing the hearts of Hoops fans last season. Forrest overcame an injury-plagued campaign to make a late impact for Ange Postecoglou ’s side and Griffiths rates him as the best he has played with.

He said: “I don’t think the Celtic fans should be panicking over the delay in Jota signing on for next season. James is the main man at the club in the wide areas. Jota had a brilliant season and the fans love him – but James has done it season after season and can be the key player again in the coming campaign.

“Everyone knows he’s had his injuries but I don’t think there’s a player who works as hard behind the scenes as Jamesie. He needs to stay injury free but when you see him in training and in full flow he’s incredible. I’m sure boys like Scott Brown and Callum McGregor would back me up when we are asked who is the best player at Celtic?

“Most of his team-mates will say it’s James Forrest. He does things in training that make you stand back and go, ‘Wow.’ I know James well and he’ll be wanting to shut a few people up as he’s been knocked time after time and just come roaring back.

“Ask any Celtic player who wows them in training and James will always be on the tip of their tongue.”

Griffiths also believes Forrest doesn’t get the true credit for his football intelligence and he points to the 30-year-old’s enduring relationship with Celtic under a host of managers as proof positive of how