FRASER Forster revealed last night that he would “never say no” to Celtic if the Parkhead club can reach an agreement with Southampton about making his loan deal a permanent one. The England international, who has five domestic clean sheets already and came up trumps with two huge saves in the come-from-behind Europa League victory over Lazio, is under contract at St Mary’s until 2022 but there is certainly no shortage of willingness on his part to return to Scotland on a permanent basis if Celtic can make the numbers work.

“It’s so early in the season but, for me, I’d never ever say no to this club,” said Forster. “It’s just the relationship I have with everyone here – the fans, people within the club and the coaching staff.

“That was the big thing for me in the summer when I had to get back out and get back playing,” he added. “I just wanted to go somewhere where I felt wanted. I’ve not had that for a long time.

“I’d some tough times down there – training for the under 23s and being away from the first-team.

“So to come back to a club like this is fantastic. And I’d never say no to this club.

“But it’s early doors and a lot of it is out of my hands. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

After his fifth clean sheet in seven league matches in the rout of Aberdeen at Pittodrie, next up is a home league outing against St Mirren on Wednesday, before Hibs on Saturday in the Betfred Cup semi-finals then the small matter of the return meeting against Lazio the following midweek. Forster believes that Celtic have set the standard in the last couple of matches and there can be no deviating from it now.

“There are just so many big games here and it’s brilliant,” said Forster. “We just need to keep fighting on all fronts and hopefully we’ll do that. I think we’re well suited to it.”