James Forrest says Ange Postecoglou is having same rejuvenating effect on Celtic players as Brendan Rodgers did

Forrest has been delighted to see a similarly restorative effect on teammate Tom Rogic since Ange Postecoglou came into the club, along with the transformative effect the new Celtic manager has had on Anthony Ralston.

For Forrest, Postecoglou has been as pivotal to the upsurge in those players’ fortunes as Rodgers was for him all those years ago.

“One hundred percent,” Forrest said. “At the time, [considering] where the club was at last season, the manager came in and freshened up the full place. It’s been good for everybody in the building and for the fans as well.

“For the players, it’s a new manager with fresh ideas and everyone has been buying into it. There are a lot of boys who maybe haven’t played as much in the past that are thriving under it and doing really well.

“That’s obviously good to see for the manager, but it’s also great for the players.

“Tony maybe thought he wasn’t going to be here at the end of last season, so for him, what he’s been doing in every game this season has been unreal, so it’s a credit to the players. It’s definitely a mix of the new manager and the players having that in them as well.

“You see it with so many players, not just at Celtic. A player can go to a team and struggle a bit maybe and not get game-time, but a different manager with different ideas can get the best out of a player.

“To be fair, everybody since the manager has come in has bought into what he’s doing, and I think that’s what you need to do.

“Tony and Tom, they’ve been exceptional since the manager came in and it’s class for all the boys to see them doing really well. Everybody is buzzing for them.”