UNDERSTATED and under-valued, James Forrest has never quite had the unanimous seal of approval among the Celtic support.

It is a curious anomaly for a player who, with 19 trinkets already in his trophy cabinet, could yet become the most decorated Celt of all time, an accolade that currently belongs to Bobby Lennox and his haul of 25.

Forrest netted his first league goal of the season against Livingston but the creativity and attacking verve that he gave Ange Postecoglou’s side, especially in the second period of the game, was notable.

Having toiled to hit optimum form since recovering from a debilitating ankle injury that robbed him essentially of a full season, there was an inevitability that it would take the winger some time to get back up to speed.

And given the form of Jota and Liel Abada there was no need to rush him immediately back into the starting line-up.

But as Celtic now buckle up for the remaining eight games of the Championship race the experience and quite composure of Forrest can be key for the Parkhead side.

Just four goals shy of joining the elite 100 club at Celtic, Forrest has the ability to conjure something from nothing – this season’s League Cup semi-final against St Johnstone at Hampden would be a case in point – but it is the fact he has been over the course so often that could be particularly valuable.

Celtic have a wealth of international players among their ranks as well as players who have been successful at previous clubs so it is overegging it to claim there are numbers who are wet behind the ears when it comes to a championship run-in.

READ MORE: Celtic laid Livingston demons to rest thanks to Ange Postecoglou's three Rs - rotation, resilience and relentlessness

But, equally, given the unique nature of Scottish football and the intensity that a three-point gap brings going into the final furlong of the campaign, there is value in having players who have previous in blocking out the hype that surrounds every kick and tackle.

Interestingly, the team that started at Livingston yesterday afternoon contained five survivors of the Celtic squad that Postecoglou inherited: Greg Taylor, Anthony Ralston, Nir Bitton, Callum McGregor and Forrest. It was the highest number who have started a league game since the early days of the Greek-Australian’s reign.

Forrest, like McGregor and Bitton, have vast levels of experience accrued over recent seasons.

A fit and confident Forrest – and his goal at the weekend will have helped in that vein – could prove crucial to Celtic for the remaining games of the campaign in that he also offers scope to change things within games.

There was also an intriguing note at the weekend when Postecoglou suggested that defender Christopher Jullien could be back “sooner rather than later”. The Frenchman has made just one appearance so far after sustaining serious knee ligament damage 15 months ago but may well feature before more prominently before the season is out.

It points to a tacit confirmation that Postecoglou’s philosophy where his teams peak at the business end of the season could come to fruition. With experienced players coming back to the fore and players coming into form at the right time it ought to lend a confidence to the Parkhead side.

Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley have played significant roles since their arrival in January and will have benefitted from coming off the bench rather than starting at Livingston.

Rogic made his 29th start of the season for Celtic against the Almondvale side, his highest ever return in one campaign that he has had from his decade of service with the Parkhead side. The Australian internationalist has looked dead on his feet in recent weeks but there was a tigerish energy to his, and the team's, performance.

A free mid-week now for the first time since the resumption of games following the winter break should allow a re-energising of the squad as they prepare for the test of nerve that lies in wait.