Joe Hart praises Celtic recruitment after first impressions of new signing

By John McGinley

January 15, 2023

Joe Hart has praised Celtic’s recruitment team for identifying and bringing Canadian international Alistair Johnston to the club.

Johnston has only been at the Bhoys for a matter of weeks after making the switch to Glasgow from CF Montreal immediately after the World Cup.

But the Celtic goalkeeper already likes what he sees after a period of settling into training and two appearances for the right-back.

As quoted by The Scottish Mail on Sunday [15/01 print edition, page 113], he said this weekend: “Ally is a bubbly, confident guy. You have to give great credit to the recruitment at Celtic.

“They have picked a player who was ready to come into our system and our way of playing and he has embraced it.

“He had a nice two or three weeks with us when there wasn’t the pressure or stress of worrying whether he would be in the team or the squad.”

Hart is also looking forward to the challenges ahead with Celtic, focusing on the future and stringing together the kind of winning form that delivers trophies.

On the prospect of facing St Mirren mid-week, who were the last domestic team to beat the Bhoys, Hart said: “We don’t have to lose a game to remind us of what we need to do. We have daily reminders in the way we play and train. It requires flippin’ hard work.

“That’s what I’ve loved about this football club over the last 18 months. We are all kept on our toes because we know things can change quickly.

“If you spend too much time looking back, even at good things, you can get lost down a wormhole. We want more in the future. It’s how I love to play the game and also how I live my life.

“I like being around like-minded people who push that. And there’s nothing better than when the main man — and everyone hangs on his every word — gives that same message.”

The goalkeeper was in excellent form for the Bhoys at Hampden yesterday, pulling off a number of crucial saves to keep a clean sheet and stop any chance of Kilmarnock coming back into the game.

The signs are looking good that Celtic can make a serious push for silverware in all three domestic competitions and Hart is pivotal to that – both on the pitch and in keeping the rest of his teammates focused on the message of the manager.

In other news, “Enjoy every moment like it’s your last”; Giorgos Giakoumakis sends Instagram message to Celtic support.