Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart has delivered an important Monday Instagram message for the Celtic international contingent as he urged them to return safe and sound.
The Hoops have as many as 9 first-team players heading out on duty to play with 5 different nations represented. Celtic have players away with the likes of Scotland, Japan, Israel, Northern Ireland, and Croatia respectively. Not to mention the Scotland U21 side too.
Hart is one of the many who will remain in Glasgow to rest and recover for another vital period kicking off later this month. And as he reflected on our recent phase between the October and November internationals, the Englishman sent the following via Instagram:

Ange Postecoglou was fortunate in the October internationals with no injury problems coming out of them. That unsurprisingly allowed Celtic to produce a settled team in recent weeks and bag a run of 6 wins in 7 games.
With our season having really taken off over the last 4 weeks, it’s imperative no damage is done when we return. Especially with crucial league, cup, and European games coming quick and fast.
Celtic had a nasty international break back in September when the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi picked up a month-long injury. All Celtic fans will be hoping they aren’t greeted with similar news come the end of this one.
Celtic ready to kick on as Joe Hart encourages players to be safe
It’s by far the most horrible periods of the season. Postecoglou has every right to feel especially frustrated by having 3 international breaks in the early stages of the campaign too. It’s robbed him of generating any real momentum just when he needs it.
Whilst fan trust in him as grown rapidly whilst results have largely been promising, there’s still a disappointment that we can’t kick on and continue to see our top stars put at risk for their international teams.
We know how it works. The players have to leave. It’s part of modern-day football and there isn’t much we can do about it. But to have 3 breaks in the first 4 months of the campaign is highly disruptive.

It’s been even more difficult for Ange considering he’s been trying to get a settled XI on the park. He’s trying to mould a new team and these breaks throw some unneeded spanners into the works.
Thankfully, this one will be the final break until March. That gives Celtic a good 4+ months to get themselves clicking and increase their development as a squad.
For now, however, we’re left with our eyes peeled on how our top stars fare away from Glasgow as we pray for little to no bad news.
In other news, What Kyogo Furuhashi’s trademark Celtic celebration actually means
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
