FORGOTTEN Celt James Forrest is poised to make his long-awaited comeback as the Hoops push to get their tenth successive title bid back on track.
The Scotland international right-sided attacker has been out since injuring an ankle in the European tie in Riga on September 24.
Forrest, 29, has missed TWENTY-TWO games following surgery on the problem, but is now ready to play his part in the champions’ revival quest.
The experienced winger stepped up his recovery in the warm-weather camp in Dubai and could join fellow-wide Bhoy Mikey Johnston back in full training.
Neil Lennon, speaking to Celtic TV, said: “We have missed those two this season. They are two exceptional talents, very individual talents, and they can change the dynamic of the way we play.
“Jamesy is not a million miles away, which is huge because he has been such a pivotal player for us over the years, while Mikey has had a real bad run of injuries and it’s great to see him back and flourishing again.”
SUNSHINE BHOY…Mikey Johnston is all smiles during training in Dubai.
Defiant Lennon is refusing to concede the championship, despite the fact the 1-0 loss at Ibrox left the team 19 points adrift albeit with three matches in hand. That will stretch to four before they play Hibs at Parkhead on Monday evening 24 hours after Steven Gerrard’s Govan outfit have taken on Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
The Hoops boss added: “We have got our targets, we have got our incentives, we have a lot to play for still.
“We are not giving up on the league by any stretch of the imagination, but we are going to have to be really on it from here on in and they are capable of doing that.
“Players have done some good work, feel better about themselves, they are refreshed, they have had some warm weather, they are feeling good, so all those cumulative effects will, hopefully, stand us in good stead.
“I think the players will get the benefit of it in the second half of the season.”
Last year, the champions hit the ground running following their return from their trip to the United Arab Emirates when they picked up 28 from a maximum 30 points – the only hiccup was a 2-2 draw at Livingston – on their way to nine in a row.
