Opinion: Pre-season fixtures are vital for 30-year-old Celtic star

Celtic’s run of pre-season games, which begin on Wednesday against Wiener Viktoria, aren’t really that important for most of the squad. The fixtures will be used to get players some game time, and to integrate the new signings into the Hoops squad.

However, there is one player that the pre-season games could be very important for, and that is Celtic veteran James Forrest.

There was perhaps a bit of a surprise when the 30-year winger signed a new contract until 2025 a few months ago, as the player hadn’t been a regular starter for the Hoops last season due to injury and the form of the other attackers in the squad.

Ange Postecoglou must have thought it was a worthwhile move though, and who are we to argue with a manager that has had so much success for the Bhoys in his time as Celtic manager.

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Forrest must use these run of pre-season games to show that he deserves to be in the Celtic starting line-up ahead of the likes of Jota and Liel Abada.

Some might say that the Celtic boss won’t take what happens in the pre-season games too seriously, as the results don’t really matter, but it should be remembered that Anthony Ralston kept his place in the Hoops side for much of last season due to his performances from the pre-season games onwards.

The pre-season games could take extra importance for the likes of Forrest and the other players that want to get into the starting line-up on a regular basis as there are no Champions League qualifiers to play this season for Celtic. for the first time in many years.

That means that any player that wants to impress Postecoglou will have to do it over the next month in the pre-season games before the Hoops kick off the league