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Forrest calls for one last push from Celtic to reach Europa League knock-outs

Forrest calls for one last push from Celtic to reach Europa League knock-outs
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Hoops need at least a point in their final group game in Glasgow on Thursday night.

James Forrest helped Celtic blow Kilmarnock off the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership but stressed it will require "a big push" to overcome Salzburg on Thursday night.

The Scotland winger grabbed a brace in Saturday's 5-1 demolition of Steve Clarke's side who could not cope with the pace and power of the champions.

French striker Odsonne Edouard, captain Mikael Lustig and midfielder Ryan Christie also scored with substitute Eamonn Brophy's penalty a consolation for the visitors.

Celtic ended the weekend two points clear of Rangers, who drew 1-1 with 10-man Dundee at Dens Park on Sunday.

Brendan Rodgers' side will be through to the knockout stages of the Europa League if they win or draw their final Group B clash against the already-qualified Austrian side at Celtic Park, or if RB Leipzig, who are three points behind in third place,  do not win against Rosenborg.

Forrest admits the Killie win was the perfect warm-up for Europe but believes it will take a top-level performance to get through along with Salzburg.

He said: "We know it is going to be a hard game and it will take a big push from everyone and hopefully we get a result on the night.

"We would have taken it being in our own hands going into the last game.

"It is going to take a real push. We know Salzburg are a top side and everyone is going to be at it on the night to make sure we get through.

"Everyone is going to have to put in a big performance to make sure we get through."

After beating Hibernian and Livingston in their previous two games, Killie boss Steve Clarke put the Celtic defeat into context.

He said: "Six points from three games is still a good week for us.

"People can't forget that and I said to the players not to forget that either.

"We still have four games to go (until the winter break) and I've said to the boys if we can pick up as many points as possible from that then we can go into the winter break satisfied with the first half of the season. "

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1Celtic1211103543134
2Aberdeen12101125121331
3RangersRangers12723179823
4Dundee UnitedDundee Utd135531914520
5Motherwell126151616019
6St Mirren145361923-418
7Dundee134362225-315
8Ross County143651222-1015
9St Johnstone144191727-1013
10Kilmarnock133371526-1112
11Hearts142391524-99
12Hibernian131571222-108


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