Keeping The Faith

Fraser Forster is delighted to be back at Paradise and is enjoying working with Neil Lennon once again as the Hoops pursue success across various competitions

- Paul Cuddihy

IT might have been five years since Fraser Forster left Paradise for Southampton, but having returned for a season-long loan with the Scottish champions, he feels like he’s never been away.

For one thing, he’s been reunited with Neil Lennon, having worked under the Irishman during his previous spell as manager, while there are still some familiar faces at the club.

It has helped him settle back into life at Celtic, and having helped the team to their sixth league win in a row with a 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock on Sunday, a result which maintains their 100 per cent start to the Premiership campaign, the 31-year-old goalkeeper is enjoying being back at the club and playing again.

“We’ve got a squad we can be very excited about,” Forster said. “The new lads have all settled quickly and that’s all credit to the lads who’ve been here for a few years. They’ve made it really easy and, obviously, from my point of view, it’s like I’ve never been away.

“It’s a really good squad and the more we play together as well as getting used to forming those relationships between different positions, we’ll just grow and get stronger and stronger.

“I think the manager has changed a bit. The big thing for me, always, with the gaffer is that he’s just such a good man-manager. He knows what each player needs, he’s got that experience and, like all of us, he’s a bit older .