CELTIC’S memorable victory over Shakhter Karagandy in the Champions League play-off back in 2013 should serve as a reminder to them that having a 2-0 lead from the first leg of a European tie is no guarantee of success.

The Scottish champions were trailing by that scoreline when the game against their Kazakhstani rivals got underway at Parkhead, but strikes from Kris Commons in the first-half, Georgios Samaras in the second and then James Forrest in stoppage time clinched a lucrative place in the group stages in thrilling fashion.

That spectacular comeback and famous 3-2 aggregate triumph shows that Neil Lennon’s side, despite having a two goal advantage going into their rematch with AIK in the Europa League play-off here in Stockholm tomorrow evening, still have work to do to progress.

Fraser Forster, the English goalkeeper whose return to Celtic on a season-long loan deal was announced shortly after the first match with the Swedish champions had kicked off last week, is one of just three survivors from that epic victory. Club captain Scott Brown and Forrest are the only others who remain.

Forster won’t be involved in the Friends Arena having returned to the Glasgow club too late to be considered for selection. Craig Gordon will once again start on what promises to be another difficult, fraught and nerve-shredding evening for the visitors.

However, he feels the away team can take heart going into the fixture due to having the hero of that epic Karagandy result still involved. The man who has spent the last five years plying his trade in the Premier League down south believes that Forrest has matured and improved in the time he has been away.

The PFA Scotland and SFWA Player of the Year has scored five goals in his last six games, including one in the first leg against AIK in the East End last week, and his old team mate believes his presence on the pitch in Solna should ensure Celtic once again prevail.

Forster still smiles when he sees the famous photograph of the youthful and baby-faced Forrest celebrating his last-gasp winner against Karagandy. “He’s devastated about that old picture,” he said. “It’s mad. At that time, he was a young player, not that he’s old now.”

But the 31-year-old is adamant that Celtic can have the last laugh in this encounter thanks to Forrest. An away goal would leave AIK, who were ultra conservative on their visitor to Scotland, needing to score four to go through. He expects the wide player to supply it or set it up.

“James has gone on to be absolutely fantastic over the past few years,” said Forster. “He’s just kicked on to a different level. Hopefully he’ll be the man who gets us through this year as well.

“He’s been fantastic. The first time he was younger, but was putting great performances in then. He’s just taken it up to a different level but is also consistently producing world class performances. It’s fantastic to see as he’s a lovely lad. It’s just great to see him doing well.”

Forster, who played just his second game of competitive football in 20 months in the 3-1 win over Hearts in the Ladbrokes Premiership at Parkhead on Sunday, is, with clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United and Roma all set to be involved, keen for Celtic to reach the Europa League group stages.

“European football is important for Celtic,” he said. “It was a fantastic result last week and hopefully we can finish the job this week. It would be massive to be in the groups. Those are the nights everyone looks forward to. Hopefully we can get through and I can sample that atmosphere.

“Celtic can definitely make an impact in the Europa League. It’s always disappointing when you miss out on the Champions League, but those qualifiers are among the toughest games you can ever play in and, over two legs, anything can happen.

“But the lads did well to bounce back from that and it was a terrific result against AIK last week. I just hope that we can finish the job on Thursday and get through to the group stage because the first game was a reminder to me of just how great European nights are at Celtic Park.”

Forster has been surprised at the criticism which has been aimed at Brown, another of the Celtic players who savoured that win over Karagandy, in recent weeks.

The combative midfielder, who turned 34 this summer, gave away a penalty with a careless handball at a corner in the 4-3defeat to CFR Cluj of Romania this month that saw the triple treble winners exit the Champions League in the third qualifying round for the second season running.

Forster, though, is in no doubt what an important figure he remains for the Scottish champions after just a few training sessions at Lennoxtown and is heartened by the fact that “Broony” will be on the park in Sweden.

“It’s been good to see Broony,” he said . “There are a lot of lads who were here when I left which is nice. It just makes it easier to settle. It’s like I’ve never been away. You just walk back in and there are so many familiar faces everywhere. It’s a really nice feeling.

“The captain is fantastic. He’s looking after himself so well and is just so consistent. He is fundamental to the team and is absolutely crucial. He was when I was here before and still is now. What he brings to changing room and what he brings to the pitch.

“Sometimes he doesn’t get the credit he deserves and people don’t realise how good he is until he’s not there on the pitch. It’s just fantastic. He’s just another one who seems to get better with age and he’s a top player. As a captain, he’d be amongst the best I’ve ever had.”