Celtic fans ‘will embrace Rangers fan Scott Allan’

Celtic midfielder James Forrest. Picture: SNS

The 23-year-old Hibernian midfielder had a medical arranged for Friday with a view to signing for the Scottish champions.

Celtic’s Old Firm foes Rangers have failed with three bids for Allan, a boyhood fan of the Ibrox club, and Hibernian were adamant they would not sell the player to their Championship rivals.

Forrest, a former Scotland Under-21 team-mate of Allan, is sure the former West Brom player will have no problem in being accepted by Celtic supporters should be pull on the green and white hoops.

“If he does sign, once you start playing games then everything gets forgotten about,” Forrest said.

“I am sure the fans will be right behind him because he will be a really good player for Celtic.

“Obviously I know him coming through the youths and he has played with Dundee United and Hibs.

“He is a really good player. He has got a lot of flair, good going forward and technically really good.

“He is a type of player Celtic look for and he will fit in well.

“A massive club like Celtic are always looking to bring in players of top quality and I am sure that Scotty can come here and do really well.

“It keeps everyone on their toes and keeps the standards high in training and in games.”

Forrest rejected the notion that Celtic moved for Allan only to get one over on Rangers.

The Scotland wide-man, speaking at the Hoops’ Lennoxtown training ground ahead of the visit of Inverness in the Ladbrokes Premiership on Saturday, said: “I don’t think it has anything to do with that.

“Celtic are always looking to bring in top players and if we do sign him he will be looking to play and do well, and that’s what we want, competition for places.”