Celtic have made a mistake with James Forrest contract extension, evidence vs Falkirk has proved it already
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The wideman has been operating in a significantly reduced role for his boyhood club this term, as he earned just his second start in 2026 in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday. However, Celtic’s victory over Falkirk largely passed Forrest by on the right wing, and that is sure to have attracted attention from the club hierarchy. ⚽ Celtic Matchday ⚽ >Team news, line-ups, expert previews and verdicts, and tactical analysis for every Hoops fixture.
VISIT THE CELTIC MATCH HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES James Forrest totally ineffective for Celtic in win vs FalkirkForrest has been a fantastic servant for the Bhoys over the years, but it has become increasingly clear this season that his influence on the team has begun to wane. O’Neill handed him a rare chance to impress in Celtic’s opening post-league split fixture on Saturday, but he failed to take that opportunity, as he struggled to make an impact on the game.
It was a poor performance from the veteran and yet more proof that Celtic have got plenty of stronger options than him at this point in his career. 🗣️ “The club has to start building for next season” James McFadden reacts to backlash after Celtic announced new contracts for James Forrest, Liam Scales and Luke McCowan ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/3OkpHTQCnu— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) April 25, 2026 View Tweet The fact that he struggled so badly against the lowest-ranking team in the top half of the league split also shows that he no longer has what it takes to perform for Celtic at the highest level, and extending his stay was a mistake.Why did Celtic hand Forrest a new deal?Football Insider revealed at the end of January that Celtic were effectively happy for Forrest to decide his own future at the club, given the quality service that he has given them over the years. Celtic have shown commitment to ensure that their club legend has been treated with the utmost respect during what are likely to be the final stages of his career.