Chris Sutton has noted in his Daily Record column that Ange Postecoglou would be facing a ‘nightmare’ situation if Joe Hart sustains an injury, as Celtic do not have adequate cover.
The Bhoys paid Tottenham Hotspur £1m to take Hart from north London to Glasgow this summer. Departing the English capital after 10 games during his sole season at the club.
Celtic seized on Hart only having a year left on his Spurs contract to sign an upgrade on Vasilis Barkas. With Postecoglou writing the Greek shot-stopper off after one appearance.
Barkas played the first match of Postecoglou’s tenure as Celtic manager against Midtjylland in July. He also sat on the bench for the first Premiership game, but has not featured since.
Postecoglou has instead favoured Scott Bain as Hart’s understudy, but the 29-year-old has played twice. While Hart has 10 clean sheets in 22 Celtic games in all competitions so far.
Hart has impressed Sutton since Celtic transfer
Hart has impressed Sutton since his summer transfer from Tottenham and signing a £15k-a-week, three-year contract with Celtic.
The four-time Premiership winner with the Bhoys now fears how Postecoglou would cope if ever without Hart. As Barkas and Bain are not up to the standard needed to step in.
“It would be a nightmare if Joe Hart was missing for games. There is not adequate cover there for someone who has really impressed,” Sutton said.
“Hart lost his way for a bit, no doubt. But fair play to him. He didn’t want to sit down on a Saturday picking up a big wage doing nothing, like some of the fat cats in England do. Get a sack load of cash playing Under-23 games.
“He wanted to come and test himself in a nightmare position. And that’s what being Celtic goalkeeper is. A nightmare. You go through long periods doing nothing and then have a save to make. If you don’t and a goal goes in, you get berated.
“Fraser Forster raised the bar, but Joe has gone in and looked so assured.”
Hart has produced some stellar saves for Celtic, alongside his clean sheets, since arriving with a point to prove after failing to play any Premier League games in the past two terms.
His efforts against Hibernian certainly set a standard Barkas and Bain could struggle to reproduce. Leaving Postecoglou desperate the 75-cap England international stays fit.
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