Conor Hazard appears to be enjoying a fine start to life in Finland with Helsinki after a promising start to the league campaign.
Hazard is out on loan in Scandinavia on a season-long deal that will run until January 2023. It came after he failed to hold down the number 1 spot last season and then went down the pecking order under Ange Postecoglou.
But things already appear to be picking up for the Northern Irishman. He’s managed to win the number 1 spot with Helsinki and has featured in all but 1 of their opening 8 Veikkausliiga games this term.
Throughout that run, Hazard has only conceded 6 goals and has bagged 4 clean sheets in the process. 4 of his goals conceded came in one game too – showing he’s on a fine run of consistency when it comes to keeping the ball out of the net.
The Celtic loanee appears to be impressing Helsinki supporters with some tremendous shot-stopping ability on show already. Hazard had to wait several months after his arrival before the league season in Finland officially begun – but it’s clear he’s making the most of it in the early stages.
Helsinki currently sit joint-top of the league having played a game more than KuPS. Hazard will be in action later today when Helsinki face FC Lahti in their latest domestic clash.
Celtic goalkeeper Conor Hazard doing what he needed to in Finland
It’s a major boost for Hazard to be getting regular first-team minutes in Finland. It’s exactly what his career needed given the lack of opportunities he was receiving towards the tail-end of last season and the first half of the current one.
Hazard’s contract at Parkhead is up in the summer of 2023. That means when he arrives back in Glasgow come the end of his loan spell, he’ll already be into the final few months of his Hoops deal.
The prospect of another being offered to him does look a touch bleak. We still have Joe Hart, Scott Bain, and Tobi Oluwayemi seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order. Not to mention Ross Doohan will be returning to provide further competition.
Hazard’s taste of first-team football this term won’t have him craving a return to benches. He’ll know the importance of regular minutes, especially at the age of 24. He’s no longer a young prodigy in his late teens.
That’s why it’s great to see him getting valuable experience with Helsinki. If he can manage to come back as a title-winner, it will do a lot for the player’s stock and potential career opportunities moving forward.
Even if it’s still unlikely we see him here in the long-term, seeing Conor having a good time in Finland is certainly pleasing.
In other news, Bundesliga talent lauds Tom Rogic’s stunning Celtic career
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