THE stunning bluntness of the statement is made somehow more powerful by being delivered by the cherubic figure sitting at the top of the table, auditioning as a picture of innocence.

"Football is a brutal game," says James Forrest, who at 21 is already a hero of the masses and of his bank manager. The winger's verdict on the harshness of his chosen profession is marked by observation and experience.

Forrest is Celtic's game-breaker, a flying wide man who can both create and scores goals. Celtic's presence in the William Hill Scottish Cup final owes much to one of his trademark interventions. In a tight semi-final against Dundee United, he moved the ball neatly away from his marker and supplied a cross that demanded Anthony Stokes score the winner. However, it has not all been glory for the lad from Prestwick. His career has been blighted by a succession of injuries that have frustrated both him and Neil Lennon, his manager and mentor.

For the moment, though, the winger is fit and ready for the final but casts his eyes back in pleasure and pain at his first double at the club as an under-age player. "I played with the youth team in the cup final at Hampden three years ago and that was my first ever appearance at the National Stadium. We beat Rangers 2-0 so it was a big deal for me," he said of the Youth Cup final in front of 7000 fans.

It was a significant week for the youngster. The youth double was immediately followed by a debut in the first team as Lennon fast-tracked a player he identified as a major attacking talent.

Forrest has made huge strides since, breaking into the Scotland team and being identified as a mainstay of the Celtic side and a target for Barclays Premier League Clubs. However, he can remember when he trained with the Under-14s at night and looked on longingly at first team players coming in for rehab or extra work-outs.

He knows, too, that he is the head of the class of 2010. He has outstripped his team-mates and opponents from that cup final with a typical fleet of foot. Intriguingly, the other most prominent Celtic player from that cup final is Dylan McGeouch, and he played for Rangers in 2010 match. "Football is a brutal game," said Forrest. "We had a good squad at Under-19 level and we were pretty close."

They are now spread across planet football from Australia, to Italy, to Dundalk, with only James Keatings and Filip Twardzik still at Parkhead.

Forrest remembers he was hardly paralysed with anxiety before the cup final of 2010, won by goals from Sean Fitzharris and Twardzik. "I was a wee bit nervous but more excited than anything. It's better playing in front of a crowd because it gives you a wee bit of adrenaline and I think most of the boys would rather play in front of a bigger crowd," he said.

Forrest, too, is a reliable "big match" player, relishing the atmosphere of international matches and Champions League encounters. "I've never been fazed by big crowds. No matter who is watching, you need to play your own game," he said.

His game is based on pace and precision. Forrest is a certain starter for Celtic when fit because he can break open defences with one touch and a sprint. "The injury is better now," said Forrest of a problem that causes strain in his calf muscles but may ultimately come from his back.

This restricted him to 28 appearances, just 17 from the start, this season. His value to Celtic can be gauged from the way he has been allowed to approach the final gently. "There were only a couple of games of the league season left so there was no point in taking any risks that might have resulted in me being out of the cup final," he said of recent absences.

He added: "I've been feeling good for the last couple of weeks. You should be fit at this stage of the season and I think all the boys are fit so it's a good situation for the manager with a selection of players to pick from. We played well at Hampden in the semi-final and managed to get through in extra time. Whatever team the gaffer goes with on Sunday I'm sure it will be strong enough to win the game."

He is aware that his season has been fractured but accepts he played a significant part in helping Celtic to reach the final. "I've not played as much as I wanted to but the semi-final would be my highlight," he said.

There is both the time and the opportunity on Sunday to create another bright memory in his brief career in a brutal trade.