JAMES Forrest has been absolutely tremendous this season, and I agree with his equally outstanding teammate Callum McGregor that he might just shade the player of the year award now.

He is a driving force in the team, he’s added goals to his game on a regular basis, he’s scoring big goals for his country, so he’s taken his game to a new level.

You can’t dive in on him because he will skip past you. You can’t stay off him because he has great delivery and can finish from range. He will outdo you in a sprint over 10 or 15 yards, he’s powerful and he can go both ways. He must be a nightmare to mark.

Both James and Callum have had outstanding seasons, and it is such a difficult one to call. I could go on about Callum just as much and what he gives to the team.

The big thing is that James is doing that sort of thing every other week, and he is stepping up to the plate with big goals as well.

Glasgow Times:

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Take his goal against Rangers for example. You can’t underestimate how good that finish was.There was 85 minutes on the clock, Celtic hadn’t played that well in the second half, Rangers are down to 10 men and you are under pressure.

There would have been all sorts written if Celtic had allowed Rangers to take anything from that game, but when the chance arrived he took it so calmly. Average players, they smash that over the bar. They think of the headlines if they miss, or the hero status if they score, but no, James just slots it away and then takes the deserved plaudits.

Whoever gets it, will deserve the award.