Celtic winger James Forrest - who has reitereated his desire to spend his career with the club - has insisted that the Parkhead side will go for the jugular when they head to Trondheim this week.

Brendan Rodgers’ side hold a 3-1 advantage over Rosenborg but will seek to finish the tie off when they meet on Wednesday night. Should they be successful in progressing into the third qualifying round, Celtic will host Greek side AEK Athens in Glasgow next week.

However, Forrest has maintained that all thoughts are on a professional performance to finish off what was an impressive second-half showing against the Norwegians last Wednesday night at Celtic Park.

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Had it not been for the woodwork Celtic would have had a more commanding lead to take with them. This time last season Forrest scored the only goal of the game in Trondheim as Rodgers’ side, without a recognised fit striker, had to make do to get through the tie.

“We had a good performance at home [this week],” the Scotland internationalist told Celtic TV. “We showed courage to come back and score three goals and we could have had more. We know it is going to be a hard game out there but we need to make sure that we are at it from the start and out in a shift for the 90 minutes.”

Forrest’s strike a year ago in Norway essentially set the tone for what would go on to be a season best return in terms of goals. The winger netted 17 goals in all competitions for Celtic last term, eclipsing his previous best of 9.

Judging by how he has started this term – he has already netted twice since the qualification campaign began – he is of the mind to pick up where he left off.

“I’ve not thought about it,” he admitted. “The position that I play, the manager always says that I need to be contributing with goals and assists and I have done that for the last couple of years. I just want to keep going. I have started this season with a couple of goals and assists and I just want to keep going and score as many as I can.

“It is really important that we had a good pre-season. We were working really hard for three and a half weeks and then the competitive games started. It is good that we have started well but we want to continue that and produce more performances like we have been.

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“It has been good to play a lot of games and contribute to the team. It was the most goals I had ever scored in one season and I just want to keep going and hopefully keep contributing and working hard.

“We have created a lot of chances over the last couple of seasons. The goals haven’t just been from one of two players and I think a lot of players have scored a lot of goals which is good. It helps everyone in the team. If we can’t get a goal we know we don’t only have to look to the strikers that someone else from midfield can step up and it definitely helps.”

A product of Celtic’s youth academy, Forrest has overtaken club legends Billy McNeill and Bobby Lennox over the last fortnight in terms of his European appearances for Celtic. The 26-year-old has featured for the club 71 times in European competition with only Scott Brown bettering him.

And Forrest believes that playing under pressure from the earliest age groups has honed his ability to play with expectation on his shoulders. There will be considerable expectation not just this week but against AEK Athens and, potentially, in any conclusive play-off round that may need to be negotiated this summer if Celtic are to be successful in reaching the group stages of Europe’s premier tournament again.

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There was a point under Ronny Deila when Forrest's time at the club looked as though it could be coming to an end. However, he has become a key part of Rodgers' side and is keen to extend his current deal with Celtic which has one year still to run.

“Coming through from under-9s, under-10s, under-11s, you are always expected to win games and I think that mentality coming through the youth does help when you come and play in the first-team,” said Forrest. “Every week you are expected to win and that pressure does start at youth ages and it does help.

“I have been in the first-team for a few years now. I am a bit more experienced. I have changed my game and scoring more goals definitely helps. I am just looking to build on that and keep scoring goals for the team.

“I have been here since I was 9. As you get older you appreciate it more and I just want to keep working hard and stay here for as long as I can. That is what I want to do.”

While Champions League progression will dominate the early part of this week, there is also the prospect of raising the Championship flag on Saturday afternoon.

Domestically is has been an unblemished chapter in the club’s history since Rodgers’ arrival at the club with back-to-back trebles secured. The challenge now will be sustaining that same hunger and drive as the club look to maintain their stranglehold on the league.

“The last two seasons have been incredible for the players, the staff, the fans and everyone involved with the club,” said Forrest. “It has been such a high. It has been such a good high and we are looking forward to kick-starting that again. The hard work starts again and we want to keep winning.”