Scotland veteran 'hasn't closed door' on national team as World Cup chances candidly discussed

The Celtic winger seemed to have disappeared from the international scene when he didn’t kick a ball for Steve Clarke in the three years that followed his involvement at the delayed 2021 European Championships.

Injuries and the rise of alternative options in the wide areas looked to have ended any prospect of Forrest adding to his cap haul two years ago until a late burst of form helped Celtic win a domestic double and also propelled him back into the Scotland squad for Euro 2024.

Two years on and, to quote baseball legend Yogi Berra, it could well be déjà vu all over again. With many of Celtic’s wingers either injured or simply not up to scratch, Martin O’Neill has turned to Forrest to try to spearhead a late-season revival, one that could yet end with Celtic again claiming another pair of trophies.

Forrest didn’t play a minute during those ill-starred European Championships in Germany – in hindsight, Scotland could have done with the spark he tends to provide – and hasn’t featured for his country since. Approaching his 35th birthday and with his contract expiring, it looked for all the world that Celtic’s most decorated player of all-time was set to slip quietly into retirement.

And, yet, there might be life in these old bones still, with Forrest rewarded for this latest renaissance with another year on his Parkhead contract. The ultimate one-club man doesn’t tend to start many matches these days but can still provide a devastating presence off the bench as St Mirren found to their cost during extra-time in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

Will this late flurry be enough to earn him a place at the World Cup? It still seems unlikely but Clarke has to name a provisional squad of up to 55 names by May 11 and it would be hard to argue against Forrest deserving a place in that scenario, if not the 26-man group that needs to be submitted to FIFA at the start of June.

Forrest has talks with Clarke

As befits his easy-going nature, Forrest remains stoic about it all. He offers a reminder that he has never retired from international football but, should Clarke not look in his direction over the coming weeks, there will be no hard feelings either.

“I’ve never closed the door on playing for Scotland,” he reaffirmed. “If you are playing well for Celtic then you get recognised by Scotland because you are going for leagues, playing in cup finals and Europe.

“I’ve seen in the past, as a Celtic player, it does sometimes lead to Scotland as well. It’s unbelievable what Steve Clarke and the players have done and great for the country reaching a World Cup.

“I’ve spoken to the manager a couple of times at the start of last season and after we qualified. He’s picked the teams that have done brilliantly to get to another competition. Everyone will back whatever decisions he makes.”

Forrest held off booking his summer holiday in 2024 until it looked like he wouldn’t be on the plane to Germany, only for Clarke to surprise him – and many others – by handing the player a late call-up and a start in the friendly against Gibraltar for his 39th cap. It remains his last involvement in a Scotland shirt but lessons have been learned.

“To be fair, we don’t know when we will be back in with Celtic yet either so no nothing is booked,” he revealed. “Everything is always a bit last minute when you are a footballer anyway. I was booked up before the Euros but ended up going. I’ve been part of the last two Euros and that was great. If it happens, it happens.”

Appearing at a World Cup would seem to be the missing item on an otherwise glittering CV that includes 26 domestic honours and a raft of European appearances. But there will be no resentment if it doesn’t come to pass.

“I’ve watched the games, I know the lads and I’m delighted for them,” he added. “The boys have been unreal and they deserve the chance to go to the World Cup.

“I’m obviously a bit older. I would have loved to have played in a World Cup and been part of it. But, at the same time, I’ve had a good career and it’s not done yet. You can never rule anything out in football. That’s the great thing about it.”