Celtic fans will be looking forward to turning their attention back to domestic matters after Scotland’s horror show at Euro 2024.
There was hope and expectancy going into the summer tournament and belief among some that they could progress through to the knockout stages.
But Scotland were slapped 5-1 in their opening game against Germany, with Celtic captain Callum McGregor coming under fire for his performance.
Yes, the performance was better against Switzerland, with the team picking up a point and Anthony Ralston this time in the firing line.
But a very, very late defeat to Hungary sent Scotland on the early flight home, with Barry Ferguson claiming that Steve Clarke might ‘regret’ some of his decisions.
One of them included not even handing a single minute to Celtic winger James Forrest during the tournament.
Chris Sutton called for it during the draw against the Swiss and Ferguson admitted that he was ‘very surprised’ he never saw Forrest at all, as he told Go Radio.
The ex-Rangers man highlighted Forrest’s performances under Brendan Rodgers during the latter months of the season.
Even though Scotland were struggling in the final third, with no shots on target for a must-win game, only two goals were scored, and one of them being an own goal, yet the man who dazzled Celtic’s wings was unused.
Steve Clarke doesn’t use James Forrest at Euro 2024
“I certainly, sitting at half-time, as I said before it would have been 10-15 minutes maximum, and then he would have made the changes,” said Ferguson.
“I was very surprised that I never seen James Forrest. I thought that was a game that would have suited him. I thought they were there for the taking. Hungary have got good players, but defensively I thought they were suspect at times.
“Bringing Che Adams off. Putting Lawrence Shankland on, I would have maybe said ‘you know what, keep the two of them on’ and then bring in James Forrest, who we all know how he finished the season off. Absolute flying the last month, so I am sure he (Steve Clarke) will go away, digest that and he will probably regret that he never made some of the changes.”
James Forrest at Celtic next season
The 32-year-old has one year remaining on his contract and you feel this could be the final 12 months of his trophy-winning career at Parkhead.
He is going to prove to be a useful squad player next season. Not expected to start, but he deserved his increased minutes towards the end of the previous campaign.
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Rodgers’ first season back was pretty up and down, but in the end, he got the job done and delivered two trophies.
You feel Celtic will now stick their chest out and really show their worth next season and dominate like they once did under Rodgers.
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