By helping Celtic to their third consecutive league title against Kilmarnock on Wednesday, James Forrest raised his major honours tally at club level to 23 – bringing him on par with the legendary Billy McNeill.

Should the 32-year-old win at Hampden in the Scottish Cup Final 2024, he'll become the second most decorated Celt behind Bobby Lennox, whose major honours list spans 26 medals.

Forrest played key roles in Celtic's 'Invincibles' treble, and the double, treble, and quadruple domestic sweeps that followed. Still, he believes this season's victory was among the hardest to earn.

"A lot of the boys and the staff said it has been a long season," he said. "There have been loads of different events and things that have happened throughout the season.

"I think we have shown as a club and as players, staff, and fans as well that we are all together. We have managed to come through the hard times and it makes it all the more sweeter."

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Following Celtic's title-winning victory in Ayrshire, Forrest was delighted with the reception he and his teammates received – both at the final whistle at Rugby Park, and back at Celtic Park in the wee hours of the morning.

At the former venue, this included a rousing appreciation of manager Brendan Rodgers who later joked that he thought the fans had forgotten his name.

Forrest added: "Winning away from home was great. The performance was really good. After the game, the fans were bouncing and going back to the stadium the atmosphere was incredible. It was a great night all around.

"It is amazing to see. I think it must have got to [the manager] at the start. Whenever you deliver a trophy you can hear the fans singing his name. He deserves that for bringing the club through a sticky spell at the start and getting it over the line and winning the league."