James Forrest believes Rangers defenders are already wary of Haissem Hassan, with the Celtic winger set for his Old Firm derby bow at Ibrox Stadium today.
Forrest’s assessment is strong, but it is also grounded in what Hassan has shown since arriving from Real Oviedo in August. The 24-year-old needed a short bedding-in period after joining once the Premiership season had already started, but he has now started the last four games and is beginning to look like a major attacking outlet for Celtic.
That growing influence was underlined on Wednesday when Hassan provided the assist for Mika Baur’s winner at St. Johnstone. It was another reminder that he is already affecting games, even before he has found the back of the net in Scottish football.
Forrest: Hassan is a real threat
Forrest did not hold back in his praise. “I think he's been really good. I just think he's such a threat,” he said.
He added that Hassan is “really sharp, really quick and his dribbling's really good,” while also noting that he “can go both ways”. For a defender, that combination is difficult to manage: speed, movement and the ability to escape pressure in either direction.
Forrest’s view was that Hassan has already made his presence felt. “You've seen it already in the first few games that he's a real threat and he'll cause problems,” he said. “You can see defenders are scared of him and I think he's just going to keep getting better and better especially once he gets his first goal.”
That is the key point for Celtic. Hassan is not being asked to carry the entire attack, but he is being asked to stretch teams, beat his man and create space for others. Forrest’s belief is that he is doing that already, and that the level can rise again once the goals start to come.
Why Hassan suits the Old Firm stage
This is the sort of player who can change the mood of a derby quickly. Rangers have gone into the match after four straight wins under Derek McInnes, so Celtic will need players who can unsettle a settled defence rather than simply keep possession.
Hassan’s profile fits that task. Forrest described him as “a top talent” and said he has “done really well”, before adding: “He looks to be positive and take his man on all the time. I think this season everyone will enjoy watching him and playing with him.”
That matters at Ibrox because the margins are usually small in an Old Firm meeting. A winger who is direct, positive and willing to attack defenders can tilt the game in Celtic’s favour if he is given enough support around him.
O’Neill on readiness
Martin O’Neill has also made it clear that Hassan’s rise has been expected to some degree. “Haissem Hassan will be on the field today without a doubt,” he said, while also noting that the winger needed time to find match sharpness after arriving from Oviedo when the Premiership season had already started.
That background explains why Hassan’s early progress should be viewed in context. He joined for a fee that could rise to €10.4million (£9m), so there was always an expectation that he would develop into a major figure, but the initial adjustment period was part of the process.
Now the timing feels significant. Hassan has had four starts to settle in, he has already produced a decisive assist, and he goes into one of the biggest fixtures in Scottish football with confidence building around him.
If Forrest is right, Rangers may already be preparing for the challenge. If Hassan keeps playing the way he has started, that fear could grow very quickly indeed.
