By support

11th Apr, 2018 | 10:27pm

Celtic POTY candidate doesn't deserve start in game where he has constantly failed

COMMENT

There is little doubt that James Forrest has been one of the players of the year in Scotland this season, and his 16 goals for the Hoops are his best ever return.

He seems certain to be one of the favourites to be named as Scotland’s player of the year, but that doesn’t mean he should start against Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final on Sunday.

The 26-year-old has never had a good game against the Hoops most bitter rivals. He seems to have a mental block in the games and the occasion seems to get the better of him.

This season you would have expected him to destroy the Gers in the games against them, so good has his form been this season.

But it hasn’t happened, and he was very quiet in the matches in both December and March.

The return to full fitness of Patrick Roberts – who started the first Old Firm game of the season in September, with Forrest on the bench – has come at a good time for the Hoops.

Roberts plays with a freedom against the Ibrox side which for some reason Forrest doesn’t, and he would be a god choice to start the game at Hampden.

Forrest can still play a part from off the bench, but for this game against Rangers, he should be dropped from the starting line-up.

In other Celtic news, fans have named a player they want the Hoops to sell in the summer

Don’t miss out on breaking and exclusive Celtic news by clicking here for our brilliant 24/7 updates on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.