James Forrest has suggested the extended break forced on football by the coronavirus crisis can have a positive effect on Celtic's squad.
Players like Forrest and Callum McGregor have been amongst those with the heaviest mileage in Europe in recent years having been involved in early European qualifying rounds and late runs in cups.
And while the physical strain is obvious, there is also a mental fatigue associated with the relentless drive for trophies that marks the life of a Celtic star.
And Forrest reckons the rest and recuperation of the last few months will mean Neil Lennon's squad will come back refreshed and more determined than ever.
He told the Celtic website : “After we came back from Dubai earlier this year, we came back and were feeling good and strong.
"The situation is less than ideal, but you can take positives from a negative situation – the boys have played a lot of football, which is tiring mentally and physically, and we’ve now had a bit of a rest.
"Everyone is now raring to go and can’t wait to hit the ground running when we’re back.
“It’s the same as every year at Celtic, winning the league is massive. Early on, we’re trying to qualify for the Champions League and of course after that, we’re expected to win leagues and cups again.
"It puts pressure on us, but it also makes us play our best football. We’re raring to go and can’t wait to get started in the coming season.”
The Hoops have won every trophy available to them for the last four seasons and the pacy winger insists it's a situation that they have no intention of allowing to change.
With new players on Neil Lennon 's agenda, Forrest reckons that no player can get too settled as a first team pick and will have talent breathing down their necks.
He said: “When you look at how successful we’ve been over the last few seasons, winning trebles, it doesn’t stop there.
"Every year we’re looking to progress and the staff are always looking to bring in new players to help the squad that are here just now, to keep them on their toes and to make sure no one gets too comfortable with the idea of being certain to start games.
"That’s good when you’ve got a big squad, and it’s good to help give you that big push into what’s going to be an important season.”
