As featured on NewsNow: Football news

Celtic boss Lennon wants Forrest ready for Juventus

Celtic manager Neil Lennon insists he will have promising winger James Forrest ready to fire against Juventus next week.

The 21-year old returned to action for the first time since December because of a hamstring injury with a goal in the 3-0 Scottish Cup win over Raith Rovers on Sunday and will go into the starting line-up against Inverness this weekend so he is primed to meet Juve in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg at Parkhead on February 12.

"James is a brilliant player. You can see what he brings to us and he's desperate to play," Lennon told the Celtic View. "We just need to drip-feed him in now gently and we have to be careful there's no reaction.

"He's a wonderful talent and one of the best Scottish players we've produced for a long, long time. I think the world of him as a boy but as a footballer there's so much he can offer.

"He's been training great and desperate to get back in but the physios have been holding him back. We've had to listen to them but it was great to get him some game time.

"We have the game up in Inverness next and we expect him to play and have him ready for Juventus.

"It was hugely important to get him some game time on Sunday. He makes us better, he drives everyone on, he excites people and got his goal.

"There are not many people who would score that goal - his turn of pace and quality of the finish was fantastic. To have him back gives us an extra dimension."

 The game is about opinions. Make yours heard! Join the tribalfootball.com nation on Facebook today: Facebook.com/tribalfootball

Video of the day:

Andrew Slevison
About the author

Andrew Slevison

×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

  1. Go Ad-Free
  2. Faster site experience
  3. Support great writing
  4. Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free
×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free