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James Forrest looking forward to "exciting" Scotland playoff in October

James Forrest looking forward to
© Reuters
The Hampden tie is scheduled for October 8.

James Forrest is hopeful fans will be back in Scottish grounds by the time Scotland's huge clash with Israel comes around.

Scotland will host Israel on October 8 in the Euro 2020 play-off semi-finals, which were initially due to take place in late March.

Scottish football is expected to resume behind closed doors in August but there is hope that at least limited crowds will be back by autumn.

And Forrest feels they would hugely benefit from the backing of the Scotland fans at the Hampden clash, which could leave them 90 minutes away from their first major tournament in 23 years with Norway or Serbia lying in wait in the final.

James Forrest scored a hat-trick against Israel in 2018
James Forrest scored a hat-trick against Israel in 2018 (PA)

The Celtic winger said: "Everyone was really looking forward, it was only two weeks to go before the shutdown came. Hopefully we have as strong a squad as we can in September and October and we will give it our best shot.

"It's exciting because we've got that game against Israel and hopefully we can get into the final.

"You see the games in other countries with no fans. It's positive that the games are back. If it has to get played without fans, that's what we will do.

"But football is not the same without fans and you can definitely see that.

"With the support we get at Hampden, it would definitely benefit us. Hopefully by the time that game comes along, we would want the fans to be involved."

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General view of Dens Park, home to Dundee, from 2013
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
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CCeltic550095306593
2RangersRangers531187325585
3Hearts513154421268
4Kilmarnock51224644256
5St Mirren51134652-647
6Dundee50144968-1942
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1Aberdeen54104852-448
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3Motherwell52035659-343
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First Phase
CCeltic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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