As Celtic look to take a step closer to being crowned champions with another three points at Rugby Park today, Joe Hart was the subject of some brilliant praise from Ange Postecoglou.
Ange paid tribute to the contribution the 35-year-old has made to the club in the last two seasons. With Celtic aiming to complete a treble this season, Hart is looking at becoming one of only three players who have won all domestic honours in England and Scotland.
Postecoglou said [Daily Record]: “He still has a fair way to go to get there but Joe has been outstanding for us. It is no secret that when I signed him I knew what I was getting as a goalkeeper but just as important was the kind of person he is.
“The way he has helped shape this team on and off the field. Obviously, he went through a tough time before arriving here and hopefully he is enjoying his football a lot more now because it has been a mutually beneficial relationship between him and the club since. He has contributed greatly and I think the club has given back to him as well.”
Hart won all domestic honours in England during his time at Manchester City. With a league title and league cup already added to his winners’ collection up here, only the Scottish Cup has eluded him so far.
Hart was one of Ange’s first signings in the Australian’s maiden season at Parkhead. He brought some much-needed stability to the backline after a horror 2020/21 campaign on the goalkeeping front. But his reliability between the sticks wasn’t the only quality Hart brought to the club.
He has been one of the biggest leaders in the dressing room over the past two seasons and his presence along with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt is one of the reasons why the club has had the meanest defence in the league over the past two seasons.
Hart has been pivotal to Celtic’s recent successes and with his contract due to expire next season, if he continues to show his value to the team as he has done over the past two seasons, it would be hard to argue against offering him a new deal. Although with Postecoglou so focused on constant improvement, it’ll be interesting to see what the long-term plans are for the position.
In other news, Matt O’Riley gets strong Ange Postecoglou endorsement despite tough Celtic competition.
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