Scotland midfielder James Forrest has grown used to hearing major-tournament anecdotes from his Celtic team-mates but is determined to create his own by reaching next summer’s World Cup finals.
Gordon Strachan’s men need victories from their two final qualifying Group F fixtures – at home to Slovakia tomorrow and against Slovenia in Ljubljana on Sunday – in order to book a place in next month’s play-offs.
In doing so, Scotland would be just 180 minutes away from reaching their first major tournament since the World Cup in France in 1998, which the 26-year-old Forrest is too young to fully remember.
During his time with Celtic, Forrest has played with several internationals who have extensive major tournament experience. Sweden’s Mikael Lustig is part of the current squad, while former team-mates such as Honduras defender Emilio Izaguirre and Nigerian Efe Ambrose also featured in tournaments during their time with the Hoops.
Forrest is one of five Celtic players originally in the Scotland squad.
Midfielders Scott Brown and Stuart Armstrong were also included prior to their withdrawal through injury, and Forrest is desperate to get in on the action with his country.
He said: “I was only seven when Scotland were last in the finals of a major tournament so I can only remember bits of it and remember people talking about it.
“I saw the goals on the highlights programmes but I can’t remember much.
“The boys at Celtic, when we ask them, they say it’s really good to be at the big tournaments.
“They talk about it when we ask them but they have been in a few now so are used to qualifying.
“They are all happy to tell me how good it is. Also, last summer there was the Irish teams and Wales going as well, so I had mates who went there.
“For Scotland to get there it would be a tremendous achievement but we don’t really want to think about that now.
“All we need to focus on is winning these two games.
“It would definitely be up there with my best achievements.”
Forrest’s Celtic team-mate Callum McGregor is a late inclusion to the squad, after netting twice in the Hoops’ 2-2 draw against Hibernian at Parkhead on Saturday.
Forrest reckons McGregor’s call-up is reward for the uncapped midfielder’s determination.
He added: “He has been excellent for us. He had a great season last time and he has started off really well again.
“It is a credit to him and he has worked hard to get into the squad.
“I train with him every day and we play together week in, week out, so I know what he can do.
“He is level-headed as well, so if he does get the chance to play on Thursday he will just go about it the same way he always does.
“We see him finish with both feet in training and he can certainly take a goal when the chance comes. He likes to arrive in the box late and we saw at the weekend there that his two finishes were excellent.
“All the top managers say that at international level you have to be able to keep the ball and Callum can do that.
“He has just kept working hard and hasn’t spat out the dummy or anything like that. He is in the squad now and if he gets the chance to play then I’m sure he will do well.
“I have been in a lot of squads now and I do get a bit of experience from that. We are made to feel comfortable and that’s good – I think it helps the way we play.”