JAMES FORREST scored 22 goals in 64 appearances for club and country last season, so it’s only natural that he may be a little relieved to see some of the workload being shared around in the early knockings of this campaign.

Forrest was even afforded the luxury of a rare night off last week as manager Neil Lennon left the winger and teammate Callum McGregor – the only player to play more than Forrest last season with 69 appearances – at home for the return leg of the Champions League qualifier against Nomme Kalju in Estonia.

The 28-year-old isn’t exactly one for shirking responsibility, as various crucial goals at critical junctures for both Celtic and Scotland proved last term, but he does admit it is pleasing to see goals coming from all angles as the champions take their fledging steps on the path towards what he hopes will be qualification for the Champions League group stages, and a successful ninth-straight defence of their league title.

The only surprise is that Forrest himself is yet to etch his name onto the scoresheet.

“The manager has said that this year he wants goals from different positions, and you see in the last few games that goals have been coming from everywhere,” Forrest said.

“It’s really good, it’s positive for all the boys in the changing room and on the pitch, you can really see that.

“Obviously I want to be involved and be contributing as well and help out by getting on the scoresheet.

“I might shave this beard off just now, I haven’t scored with it, so it might need to go!

“A lot of boys will have their own targets, but it’s still early in the season. Every game I’m feeling better fitness-wise and I feel I’m getting up to speed, and you see at the weekend we scored seven and created a lot of other chances too.

“On a personal note, when you are creating chances and still getting into the right positions you are still happy, and you just want to keep contributing.

“It did feel strange to get a break so early in the season, especially in the qualifiers. But it did work out well and you maybe saw the benefits of it in the game against St Johnstone on Saturday.

“After resting a few boys, everyone was raring to go, and we got a big win. It was a good decision by the manager.”

Forrest’s place in the Celtic starting XI will only really be under any doubt when the chance arises for his manager to give him a further break at any point throughout the season, but he is heartened by the strength in depth that the squad currently possesses.

Not only will that afford him the chance of a break now and again without lessening the quality of the side too much, but it also makes it impossible for the opposition to focus too much on stopping him, given the dangers from elsewhere on the park.

“When you are playing against Celtic, if you look through the team, I think it would be silly for opponents to just focus on one or two players, because you can see on Saturday that we have got so many good players,” he said.

“There are players coming off the bench and scoring as well, so if you look throughout the team there are real threats and dangers.

“I think [the compeititon]’s been like that since I came through into the first team, it’s always been the same, there’s always been a lot of wide players in the squad.

“It’s just normal to have more players in that position than you do in others because of the amount of games in the season.

“it’s good for the boys and you can see in training that everybody wants to play, and that is why the standard in training is so high. You then see that in the level of performances as well.

“It’s a great feeling, and we got a clean sheet on Saturday as well, so that’s good for the team too.”

Celtic now know that they will face Slavia Prague in the final round of Champions League qualifying should they overcome CFR Cluj, but Forrest isn’t looking any further ahead than the first leg of that tie in Romania on Wednesday night.

“We obviously spoke about the draw but really we are just focused on Cluj,” he said. “You can’t take these games for granted, these qualifiers are massive.

“Some of the teams we face have done well in the Europa League and even been in the Champions League in recent seasons. So, we know they are difficult and we have to take one at a time.

“We know [Cluj is] going to be a difficult game, the Champions League games are always tough, but off the back of a 7-0 win is the best way to go into the game on Wednesday.

“We’ve been creating a lot of chances in the games we’ve played so far, and with the players we have in the team we’re not really made to sit back and defend, so we’ll be looking to score over there.”

Meanwhile, Forrest has praised his teammate Kieran Tierney for the way he has handled the prolonged speculation over his future during the summer, while hoping he remains his teammate beyond the end of the week.

“He’s been a great player for us and everyone is hoping that come Friday he is still here,” he said.

“Considering how long the talk about Arsenal has gone on, I think he’s handled it really well.

“He’s still only 22, so he’s coped well. Every day, there seems to be something new in the story but he’s just keeping himself to himself and working hard. That’s credit to him.”