CONTENT, but not comfortable. That is how James Forrest describes his current state of mind, and how he describes the approach that has led to him becoming one of Celtic’s most decorated players of all time.

As speculation surrounds the futures of teammates like Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor, Forrest remains under the radar, and that’s just the way he likes it. But his desire to stay at Celtic – perhaps for the remainder of his career – shouldn’t be mistaken as a lack of ambition.

In fact, despite the 17 honours he has now accumulated at the club over the years, he says he still has as much drive as he ever has to deliver European football and ultimately, trophies, to Celtic.

"At the start of the season, I still have the hunger to go and get more success,” Forrest said.

"You want to get into the Champions League and experience those nights.

"A lot of players in England, they have maybe never played in Europe or won trophies. It's different. They have their own sights, but I have been at Celtic since I was a wee boy. It takes a lot to play here and I just want to keep doing it.

"Being content is good but I won't get to the stage where I am comfortable. The club is always looking to sign new players and there is competition.

"Celtic always look to get better and that keeps you on your toes every season.

“We’ve had a few managers here who have said the same thing. They’ve warned that as soon as you get comfortable that’s when it turns –and someone else ends up in the team in front of you.

“Every season you have to start again and impress the manager. The same goes this summer, even if the manager has been here before.

“All of the boys are trying to impress. There will probably be new signings coming in and there’s young players pushing to come through, so there is going to be competition for places.

“It’s healthy for the club because you can’t afford to get comfortable.”

Now going into his tenth season as a first-team player at Celtic, Forrest is now in that rarest of territories for a modern-day football player, where talk of testimonials is approaching.

“It would be unbelievable, but I don’t really think about it,” he said.

“It’s probably only once you finish that you’ll think how good it was but just now I just want to keep going.

“[Testimonials] are unusual these days. You don’t see much of them anymore. When I was coming through you saw a few of them but it’s just different now. A lot of clubs change managers every couple of years, so players move on.

“If you’ve been at a club like Celtic for that long you must be doing something right.

“I’ll just keep seeing what happens. You never know what happens in football. But I have been here for so long and as you get older, you do start appreciating it more.

"It's great when you are playing at Celtic and winning trophies," he continued.

"You are playing in the Champions League against the top players. Being at Celtic also gives you a good chance of going away with Scotland and getting caps.

"I just want to keep working hard and stay here for as long as I can.

“It’s different when you are 19 or 20. You don’t think about things so much but when you have been through six or seven pre-seasons, you know what to expect.

“When you’re young you have no fear and that’s a good thing for them. When you get older you realise how big it is and how important it is to keep performing if you are to stay here.

"Over the years, there have been so many players who have come and gone. That's another positive that I am still here, with all the different managers who have been. Players come and go but I take a lot of confidence and positivity from the fact I am still here.

"You want to be at a club like Celtic and I will keep working hard to do that.”