Celtic have struggled to extract goals and assists from their wide players so far in the Scottish Premiership this season, which is why it was pleasing to see Michel-Ange Balikwisha’s assist for Daizen Maeda.
The summer signing from Royal Antwerp provided his first goal contribution for the Hoops with an excellent cross for the Japan international to score the winning goal against Motherwell last weekend.
Sebastian Tounekti has caught the eye with 14 completed dribbles in five games, per Sofascore, but he has yet to register a goal or an assist in three outings in the Premiership.
Veteran forward James Forrest, meanwhile, has settled into his role as a back-up option because he is unable to influence matches in the way that he once could.
The role James Forrest plays for Celtic
The 34-year-old winger is a reserve player for the Hoops who is thrown on in matches as a substitute if things are not going their way, or if Brendan Rodgers wants a hard worker to see out a game.
Instead of being the influential player he once was, having produced ten goals and 18 assists in the 2019/20 Premiership campaign, Forrest is not a first-choice forward on the right flank, and his output reflects that.
25/26
7
0 + 0
24/25
23
1 + 6
23/24
21
6 + 1
22/23
16
4 + 2
As you can see in the table above, Forrest has yet to deliver a goal or an assist in seven matches this season, after scoring once in 23 league games last term.
That should be expected, though, because the Hoops academy graduate turned 34 this summer and has naturally declined as a player as he heads towards the latter stages of his career.
There is another Celtic player, who is even older than the winger, in the squad on the way to becoming the next Forrest after another disappointing showing at the weekend, Kasper Schmeichel.
Why Kasper Schmeichel could be the next James Forrest
The 38-year-old shot-stopper conceded two goals from three shots against Motherwell and may feel that he should have done better with the penalty that he failed to keep out after going the right way.
67HailHail gave him the same rating (5/10) as right-back Anthony Ralston, whose poor concession in midfield led to the opening goal for the away side.
Whilst Schmeichel was as bad as Ralston at the weekend, the experienced Dane was also partially to blame for the 2-0 defeat to Braga in the Europa League last week.
Save success rate
70%
Bottom 44%
Goals conceded
3
Bottom 13%
Goals prevented
-0.39
Bottom 31%
Clean sheets
0
Bottom 3%
Errors leading to goals
1
Bottom 3%
High claims
1
Bottom 26%
As you can see in the table above, the former Premier League title winner is among the worst-performing goalkeepers in the Europa League so far this season, albeit after just two gameweeks.
Age catches up with all players eventually, which is understandable, and Schmeichel is currently in danger of becoming the next Forrest, by losing his place in the starting XI and becoming a back-up option at Parkhead.
If the ex-Leicester City star continues to turn in concerning performances, like against Motherwell and Braga, then Rodgers may have a decision to make on who starts between the sticks.
Viljami Sinisalo has conceded five goals in nine appearances for the Hoops, per Sofascore, since his move from Aston Villa in the summer of 2024, and the Finland international may be pushing to take Schmeichel’s place in goal in the coming weeks.
Therefore, the 38-year-old colossus must show that he can defy age and recapture his best form if he wants to avoid following in Forrest’s footsteps.
