JAMES FORREST picked up his 23rd piece of Celtic silverware on Saturday.
If he wins another gold medal at Hampden this weekend, he’ll be one behind Bobby Lennox as the club’s most decorated player.
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But Forrest, 32, won’t even entertain the idea of someday being immortalised in bronze like his fellow Ayrshireman.
Hoops great Lennox’s statue in Saltcoats is in homage to his success as part of the legendary Lisbon Lions team.
Forrest hails from Prestwick, just 17 miles down the road, but asked if he fancied a Lennox-style statue, he said: “I’m not sure about that!
“My family would laugh at that one if I told them it was happening.
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“I don’t think that will happen down there.
“It’s been an unbelievable period though, and I don’t take any of the medals I’ve won for granted.
“It’s just good to feel part of the team again, but when you hear those milestones, it’s just incredible.
“When I get older, I think I will appreciate it even more.”
The humble Hoops star admits his growing list of honours gives him immense pride after 14 trophy-laden years at the champions.
Yet helping Celts to glory in this weekend’s Scottish Cup final means more than any personal accolades.
Forrrest added: “Getting another medal in the Scottish Cup is an incentive, but winning a trophy for Celtic’s the only incentive I need.”
Winger Forrest has enjoyed an incredible Hoops revival in recent weeks, months after struggling to even make matchday squads.
The 32-year-old’s long Parkhead career appeared to be winding down, and he admits a January exit could have been on the agenda.
But after discussions with boss Brendan Rodgers, the experienced Celtic and Scotland star stayed put.
After playing a pivotal role in the final weeks of the campaign, turning around their Scottish Cup semi-final with Aberdeen before a match-winning double against Dundee, Forrest is delighted how things panned out.
He said: “I did speak to the manager a couple of times, and it was mainly just about getting that chance.
“Sometimes it does come along and I’ve been able to take it.
“Celtic has always been my No 1, and I love playing here and winning stuff.
“It’s unbelievable, but I’m at an age where I wanted to play. I’m not 35 or 36.
“It was a discussion I had with the club, but I was glad when the window shut and that was out of the way.
“I was going to be here and my focus was to work hard and hopefully get a chance.
“You never know how things are going to turn out but it’s been incredible.
“The last few months have been fantastic for me.
“And hopefully the final goes well too.”
Gaffer Rodgers has saluted Forrest’s professionalism and application during the periods where he found himself out of the squad.
But the Celtic legend insists there was never any chance of him downing tools and easing off.
He was confident his chance would come at some point, and was committed to keeping himself in the best condition possible.
Asked how he stayed motivated when frozen out, not kicking a ball in anger in 2024 until March 10, Forrest added: “It was good because it wasn’t just me.
“There were four or five of us who weren’t in the squads and maybe when the team was playing, we were at Lennoxtown doing a session.
“We all really pushed each other in training.
“It was hard because you didn’t know if you would get a chance, but you had to make sure you were ready if you did.
“There was no point tossing off the training and not doing it. If you do that, you wouldn’t be fit enough and ready when you did get a chance.
“It’s maybe credit to the players I trained with that they kept us going.
“I’m at an age where everyone will talk about my age, and that I’m older.
“I do want to keep playing for as long as I can, and for as long as I feel good.
“It would be hard to get it back if you didn’t train as hard as you possibly could.
“Every player at Celtic trains hard and it was down to that.”
Forrest looks certain to start against Rangers at Hampden, but expects another fight for a regular place next season.
The Celts stalwart knows he’s going into the final years of his career, but claims he’s still trying to improve his own game.
Forrest has fierce competition with numerous other wingers in Rodgers’ squad — but is up for the challenge.
And he also revealed he takes hints and tips from the new guard as they all battle for a regular spot.
Forrest said: “I do feel older because I’ve been here a long time now, and been through a lot.
“We keep signing younger players too — but that’s the way the club is going.
“For me that’s good as even older players can learn off the younger ones.
“It’s great to work with younger boys and older guys.
“Whenever we sign a winger, I can learn off them because they can do different stuff.
“You look at their game and see if you can add something, and that’s what I’ve always tried to do.”
Forrest vowed Celtic will snap out of party mode and be ready for the Scottish Cup final.
The Hoops celebrated their Premiership triumph at the weekend, but will now return to training as normal.
Rodgers will demand full focus ahead of Saturday’s Hampden clash — and Forrest insists there will be NO title party hangover.
He said: “In the manager’s first spell here, we would do that a lot.
“I remember winning League Cup finals on the Sunday, and then we had a league game three days later.
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“We couldn’t celebrate it back then, but he also brought that winning mentality. He would say to us, ‘You can celebrate down the line, there will be a time. If you want to go down in history and look back thinking you won more than one trophy, that’s what you need to do’.
“So we have to prepare properly and give ourselves the best possible chance to win another one.”
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