It seems like no time at all since Neil Lennon was explaining that Fraser Forster had come to Celtic “highly recommended,” albeit a young, raw and pretty gangly goalkeeper. How things have changed.

Three years on and, if reports from Catalonia are to be believed, the former Newcastle United reserve is attracting interest from no less an outfit than the great Barcelona themselves.

That’s some rise for a player who failed to make a single competitive appearance for the Magpies in five years and during his time with the club was sent out on a mini-tour of English football as a near constant loanee.

Still when you turn in top-class Champions League performances against Barca two seasons running, as Forster most certainly has, you have every right to be lauded as La Gran Muralla — or Great Wall.

Despite signing a new four-year contract in the summer Lennon has accepted that his current number one is unlikely to be at Parkhead much longer.

He is right to be pragmatic on that score and not only because other clubs — Benfica, for example — have taken note of the big Northumbrian’s ability.

What the world knows is that Forster has a real chance of being England’s first choice between the sticks by the time of the World Cup in Brazil next summer. Or rather he would have were he not playing in Scotland.

That may be a harsh assessment, but it is true nonetheless. Yes, he is playing for the champion club of this country. Yes, he is making great strides in Europe’s premier competition, but those things will not in themselves be enough to dislodge a very shaky looking Joe Hart, the current incumbent.

Though Forster is in the squad for his country’s crucial matches over the coming days against Montenegro and Poland, I strongly suspect that were he now playing at, for example, Southampton where former Celtic goalie Artur Boruc is having a fine season, he would have already nabbed the jersey from Hart.

That’s just the way it is frankly. One only has to look as far as Ki Sung Yeung, Victor Wanyama, Gary Hooper plus a clutch of ex-Rangers and others to see that Scotland is now a mere staging post.

England manager Roy Hodgson clearly feels that being seen to perform week in, week out, in an environment such as the English Premier League is the only real barometer of form and ability (La Liga and the Bundesliga aside).

It should be noted the England manager has a high regard for Scottish football and its place in the history of the game. He is not being dismissive but rather extremely cautious about using individuals based in Scotland.

Hodgson perhaps also sees Forster as a very good, but still improving player. His kicking remains — at times — a weak spot, though the only one in his game.

Ideally he would benefit from at least another season in Glasgow.

Alas, the timetable just does not fit and I suspect Celtic have already begun the search for a new goalkeeper, one which they will expect to have installed early in January.

 
Ibrox hierarchy should follow legend McCoist’s lead and offer to trim wages

Ally Mccoist is correct in saying that taking a pay cut is “the right thing to do.” One just wonders why it took him so long?

Post-liquidation in 2012 there should have been a complete re-drawing of all financial affairs, including salaries and contracts, at Ibrox. The truth of the matter is the climate of that time, under Charles Green, did not suit such restraint.

Now, with operating losses at nearly £14.5 million for the 13-month period to the start of July, there can be little doubt that significant belt-tightening is the order of the day. Or else!

The Rangers manager has put on record that his willingness to take a 50 per cent hit on his current salary of £825,000 had “nothing to do with the accounts.”

He may think that, but what he fails to spot is that those on the other side of the negotiations obviously felt that he was being substantially overpaid for a coach now operating in the third tier of the Scottish game.

Perhaps what matters most is that McCoist, a man who would never dream of hurting his beloved Rangers can now, as he puts it, “feel comfortable” with his pay cheque. Others at Ibrox, no matter how elevated their position, should take note.

Haile Gebrselassie is welcome in Glasgow any time

Sport at its purest should lift the heart and Haile Gebrselassie did just that with his brilliant performance at the weekend in the Great Scottish Run.

At the age of 40 the Ethiopian — a double Olympic gold medallist — stormed home, knocking a full second off the course record.

This was extraordinary stuff and those lucky enough to see him pound the streets in the rain to Glasgow Green will cherish the memory.

Gebrselassie is a true great and a real gent. I recall interviewing him more than a decade ago and he was humility personified, downplaying his considerable achievements with a gentle smile.

Now reflecting on victory and his first time in Scotland he said simply that he was “so happy” to have taken part in a “wonderful race.”

The pleasure was all ours, Haile.

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