Former Scotland international Kris Boyd believes James Forrest has the time on his hands to take up a bigger challenge away from Celtic. The 27-year-old has undoubtedly been the best performer in the Scottish top-flight and he contributed 11 goals and nine assists in the club’s recent Premiership triumph.

Speaking to The Scottish Sun, Boyd said that Forrest has achieved everything within reach in Scottish Football and he should now look into the prospect of pursuing a bigger challenge in the Premier League or elsewhere, he quipped: “He has probably achieved all he can achieve in Scottish football. It is similar to Scott Brown a number of years ago in terms of how good a player is Scott Brown. Can he go and play in the English Premier League? He has never done it. Could James Forrest do it? He is still young enough to go and try away from Celtic.”

At the age of 27, Forrest surely does not have much time to make a big career elsewhere but he could probably take the chance to head to the Premier League, should an offer come by. Leicester City and Southampton have been associated with his services in the past six months but joining either team does not assure him of a starting role which has been the case at Parkhead.

Nonetheless, it’s now or never for the Scotland international and it remains to be seen whether he has the ambition of making a name with another top European outfit. Forrest is expected to feature for Celtic when they face Hearts in the Scottish Cup final this weekend. He has been sidelined with a hamstring injury for the past few weeks but interim boss Neil Lennon has revealed that the winger should be deemed fit for the Cup clash, where the Hoops are overwhelming favourites.