Forrest fresh and ready to play anywhere for Scotland after cancelling holiday

Steve Clarke, it seems, is no respecter of holiday plans.

The Scotland manager decided not to give those included in his 28-man provisional squad for the European Championships a heads up that they should hold fire on booking their end of season getaways, leaving the likes of James Forrest in something of a quandary.

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The Celtic winger though is only too happy to have had to cancel his planned break after making the cut for the initial pre-tournament training camp and friendly matches, saying it is a small price to pay to be in with a shout of heading to Germany with his national team.

“I did [have to cancel my holidays]!” Forrest said.

“Just because it was a late call, but I was more than happy to. It was an easy decision.

“It was meant to be this week [that I was going away]. We’ll just get our holidays at the end of the Euros anyway.

“We were actually training and when I came into the changing room a few of the boys were shaking a few of the Scotland boys’ hands. It had literally just been announced. I didn’t have a clue!

“I saw that Steve Clarke said in an interview he didn’t call Ben Doak either. He likes the excitement that way and it was a great boost for me, especially going into the Scottish Cup final.

“Off the back of the last couple of months, to get in the Scotland squad is great for me.”

The call-up was the cherry on top of the icing for Forrest after his late-season resurgence for Celtic led to him adding yet another two winners’ medals to his burgeoning collection.

It is the focus he has placed on producing that impressive form that had led to everything else.

“To be honest, I’ve always just wanted to focus on Celtic,” he said.

“I’ve always thought if I was doing well here, I’d get a chance again.

“I know the system Scotland have been playing. They’ve had a couple of injuries but have had a tight group right through doing well in qualifying. When you’re getting older as well, it does become harder.

“I’m delighted to be back involved and I’m just going to enjoy every day.

“It would be incredible [to play against Germany]. The last couple of months couldn’t have gone any better, to be honest.

“I’m buzzing to meet up with the camp. There’s the couple of friendlies first and if I can help the team and contribute then I’ll be delighted to do that.”

The system that Forrest mentions though does, he knows, work against him. Clarke has rarely deployed out-and-out wingers, but Forrest hopes that his flexibility in also being able to operate at right wing back may work in his favour.

“I think any player in this team would play anywhere for their country,” he said.

“That’s the way we’ve been getting joy. I don’t understand why they would change the system and if I get asked to play anywhere, I’d be more than happy.

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“The manager here in his first spell used to play that formation a lot. We were maybe dominating the ball more, so it’s maybe a little bit different than with Scotland.

“We were maybe attacking a bit more than with the national team.”

Whether he is trusted to operate in such a position remains to be seen, but Forrest says it just feels good to know that both his manager at club level in Brendan Rodgers and Clarke trust him to bring his experience and know-how into their squads.

“It does,” he said.

“Celtic and Scotland are both bringing through young players and it’s good to have experienced players and older players in the squad as well.

“I think we’ve got a good balance with that.”