Liel Abada hails Celtic centurion James Forrest for filling Nir Bitton 'big brother' mentor role

Liel Abada insists Celtic centurion James Forrest provides him with daily advice and inspiration.

The Israeli winger is full of admiration for the Parkhead hero, who penned the latest fantastic chapter in his fairytale career with a weekend hat-trick against Hibs in the Hoops’ 6-1 victory. Abada was just eight years of age when Forrest scored his first top-team goal for Celtic on debut against Motherwell in May 2010.

Over a dozen years later, the attacker has netted in every top-flight season since and has now taken his overall tally to the 100 mark. With 20 winners’ medals and 99 assists also in the bank, few would argue with Ange Postecoglou ’s assessment that Forrest is a club legend. At the age of 31, there is still more to come before he is done and, as a fellow winger, Abada rates his colleague in the highest regards as both a player and a person.

A decade his junior, the former Maccabi Petah Tikva star looks destined for a career at the highest level himself. Adaba knows it will take dedication, mentality and ability to do it for a lengthy period of time. And he sees how it’s achieved by watching Forrest

He’s picking up information and tips from his senior pal every single day as they work together at Lennoxtown. Abada said: “Jamesy is a really good friend and he has been able to teach me so much. He has been at the club for a long time, has played a lot of games and scored a lot of goals.

“I can learn so much from him and I was so happy to see him score a hat-trick. I speak with him all the time and he gives me a lot of advice.

“What I admire most about him is his movement and technique and his finishing is good. I’m happy to have him as a team-mate and, hopefully, he can keep scoring for us because he