Ange Postecoglou has given James Forrest a vote of confidence ahead of the winger’s on-field reunion with younger brother, Alan, at the Tony Macaroni today.
It is in keeping with Livingston’s terrific season that on a free vote of which sibling they would rather have in their team right now, most bosses would probably plump for their winger over the Celtic and Scotland star.
For while 25-year-old Alan has been terrorising Premiership defences up and down the country, James, five years his senior, has been a largely peripheral figure for Celtic.
Hit by successive injuries, his displays had lacked their usual swagger sparking fears of a loss of confidence.
Yet if Postecoglou has not seen the best of a player who has won an astonishing 20 major trophies with the club, he is well aware of his capabilities.
“James just needs a good run at it. Unfortunately he’s not had that due to some interruptions,” said the Hoops boss.
“But I thought James, Tommy Rogic and Nir Bitton were outstanding when they came on against St Mirren in midweek.
“Especially James, because that’s as bright as he’s been for us in quite a while.
“He was a real threat, he took people on. I know he’s still got it – it’s just a matter of him getting a run.
“I know he’s going to be a valuable contributor for us before the end of the season.
“People forget that it was his goal in the League Cup semi-final that got us to the Final.
“James is still a man for the big moments and I’m sure we have some big ones ahead of where he will be involved.”
In addition to believing good times are just around the corner for one of his most-experienced players, the Greek-born Australian is likewise bullish that his whole squad are ready to come to the boil at just the right time.
“I hope we’re on track to be strong in this part of the season, that’s the plan,” said Postecoglou (inset).
“After the Livingston game, we’ve got eight days until we play in the Scottish Cup.
“That will be the first free midweek we’ve had for a while. That means we rest some of the players and put some work into others.
“Then it’s another week before we play Ross County ahead of the international break.
“That’s a good period of time for us to do some work. The positive thing for us is that the lads we got in January have performed right away.
“That has allowed me to rotate the side, which means we haven’t over burned any players. We haven’t had the level of injuries we had in the first half of the season.
“I’m hoping we got to the international break with a fully fit, healthy squad. That will help us be at our strongest for the most important part of the year.”
Postecoglou acknowledges that with Livi having taken 20 points from their last 10 games, the test Celtic face today is likely to be challenging in the extreme.
“At Livingston, we know we’re in for a tough game but that’s good for us because we’ll need to be at our best to beat them,” he said.
“They’ve caused problems for every team in the league and I’ve got great admiration for what David Martindale has done.
“I know how tough this manager role is. But he’s done a brilliant job with his group of players.
“I look at the way he works with his team and I like the fact that when someone’s written off they come back.
“It’s the same with Malky Mackay at Ross County. Both of those clubs have rolled their sleeves up and got on with things.”
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