'Great milestone': Forrest on 500th game for Celtic with 3-0 win over Rangers

James Forrest played his 500th game for Celtic on Sunday calling it a “great milestone”.

The wide man played in club’s 3-0 win over Rangers and his situation at the turn of the year made the achievement all the sweeter.

“It’s a great milestone,” he said. “Obviously coming through the academy here and making a 500th appearance in front of your home fans in a victory against your rivals, it was a great day all round.

“Over the last few years you see it less and less. You see a lot of players moving on from clubs after two, three, four years. That’s more the norm now.

“But being at a club the size of this for so long is a great achievement and I just need to keep working hard to try and add to that now as well.

“To be honest I only knew in the last couple of games I was close to 500.

“But I had a spell late January and February when I wasn’t in squads and I didn’t know if I was ever going to play for Celtic again.

“But when stuff like that happens it makes it even better when you do get achievements.

“It’s the same throughout your career, you maybe go through bad spells through loss of form or you’re injured, so it’s always good when you come back, win stuff and help contribute for this club.”

The Scotland winger also said he never considered international retirement after his Euro 2024 disappointment.

The 33-year-old was recalled by Steve Clarke following a three-year absence and played in the warm-up win over Gibraltar.

But the in-form Celtic player never got any action in Germany as Scotland limped out of the group stage with one point.

Forrest has continued where he left off this season with his club form and is in Clarke’s squad for the UEFA Nations League openers against Poland and Portugal.

While his club captain, Callum McGregor, called time on his Scotland career, Forrest wants to write another chapter in an international story that has earned 39 caps so far.

“Every player is different,” he said. “Obviously I went away to the Euros and it was the first time I had been away for years and I enjoyed it.

“But as a player you want to play, at club and international level, and I didn’t get the chance to do that.

“But while I am still feeling fit and healthy I’d like to try and contribute if I can.

“I understood what kind of role I was going to have before I went but I thought it was a real good end to the season that I had and I took that confidence into the Euros.

“But the manager took 26 players so you know he’s taking loads of players and he needs to make the decision at the time in games, and there’s not much I can do about that.

“I just need to do what I did here, keep working hard and hopefully I get another chance.”

Forrest has rejuvenated his Celtic career after finding himself out of the picture at the start of 2024.