HE was once the player with a £10million price tag hanging around the neck. He was also the man who, for the second half of last season, had several of his own on his back.

A forward synonymous with Celtic, James Forrest has, at least to those on the outside, endured the most trying and testing spell of his time at Parkhead, a period in his tale that looked to be the final chapter at the institution he has been a part of since a young boy. A rejected deal back in February led then manager Ronny Deila to only use the winger one more time last season and caused a small minority of his own support to jeer his name as it was read out among a list of substitutes, believing the young academy graduate perhaps thought the grass was greener elsewhere.

Almost six months on and Forrest’s situation could not be more changed. Reinvigorated by the Brendan Rodgers, the 25-year-old put pen to paper earlier this week on a new three-year deal tying him to Celtic until 2019. It is a contract that most connected with the club thought would never happen, especially under the reign of Rodgers’ predecessor. It’s a hypothetical notion that Forrest himself was not keen to entertain as he spoke for the first time since agreeing terms, but instead forced to reiterate the message that his heart and head had never wandered from the place that, for so long, he has called home.

“I can’t say that [I’d not have signed if Deila had stayed]. I don’t know. When you come back from pre-season you never know and I was obviously hoping to stay at this club. It is massive,” he said inside a Lennoxtown dressing room, white breezeblock walls protecting him from the balmy Scottish summer showers ravaging Celtic’s training ground. “All pre-season I wanted to get it sorted. I’m just glad that’s it now and I can just concentrate on playing.

“Nothing’s ever changed for me. I’ve always said I wanted to stay here. I’ve been here since I was nine and never wanted to leave. I made the club know that straight away. I’m just glad it’s done.

“That is the thing. We can all read stuff but I never had in my head that it was definitely done and I was definitely away. I knew in April that there was going to be a new manager and I was kinda hoping then that when the new manager was in there was going to be a clean slate and I could show him what I could do and I am just glad that happened.”

Only Forrest knows where he saw his future as news of his contract breakdown broke. Regardless, he acknowledges it was a troubling period as some questioned his intentions, while others felt that a parting of the ways was probably best for all concerned.

“Everyone has their own opinions. You just need to work hard,” said Forrest, speaking ahead of Celtic's International Champions Cup game with Inter in Limerick tonight. “It’s not about proving people wrong but doing it for yourself. I’ve been at this club for so many years and I’ve wanted to extend that. I’m glad it’s done.

“That’s the thing – there were always rumours but I never said I wanted to leave the club. People close to me and inside the club knew that as well. I knew I’d get my chance to show everyone and I feel I’ve done that this pre-season. It’s been good so far in the competitive games. I’m really glad I’ve signed.

“It’s hard – it wasn’t nice when folk have maybe read things and think that’s what happened but I knew myself and was obviously hoping I’d get a chance to show that I wanted to be here.”

What is undeniable that Forrest is entering a critical phase of his time at Celtic. Often mistaken as a young player finding his way, he is now into his 26th year, six years on from his first-team debut, with a raft of matches behind him.

Often – and at times rightly – criticised for lacking an end product and being hesitant in his decision making, the talent Forrest has at his frantic feet is unquestionable. Injuries have played their part in slowing down his progression in the past but, now fully fit and working with a manager who not only believes in him but who he also has faith in, Forrest is understandably excited about what Rodgers can do for him.

“He phoned me in the off season and said he’d seen me play before and liked the way I’d played,” he said. “We’ve a top class manager here as well. When he came in everyone had a clean slate. I’m impressed (with him) so far and just want to keep going.

“Different managers play different players. We’ve had a lot of players here as well and there’s been a lot of chopping and changing.

“Now I want to get my head down, keep working hard and look to the future.”