Callum McGregor has told The Scottish Sun that Joe Hart has set a great example for young Celtic players to follow since the goalkeeper completed a summer transfer to Parkhead.
Hart left Tottenham Hotspur for £1m in August to offer Hoops manager Ange Postecoglou a new option between the sticks. Vasilis Barkas endured a disappointing start to the season as the Australian’s initial number one, after also struggling last term.
The Hoops’ swoop has proven to be a great success during Hart’s first few months in the Premiership. He has kept five clean sheets to five goals conceded over 10 league outings so far. While also shutting out four sides in nine ties over the Europa League and League Cup.
Hart impressed McGregor with not only his saves, but how the Celtic goalkeeper responded against Hibernian on Wednesday. The £15k-a-week shot-stopper made two crucial saves at Easter Road, denying Joe Newell from close range and later keeping out Jamie Murphy.
“Joe’s been first-class,” McGregor enthused. “At massive moments in the [Hibs] game, he made two brilliant saves. Every single player congratulated him, but Joe just said: ‘That’s my job. I’ve got to keep the ball out of the net’.
“It shows how humble he is, too, which is brilliant. In those moments, you need big saves – and he’s been first-class at that. The standards he sets every day for the younger lads to follow is great. The importance of that can’t be overlooked.”
Have Celtic finally replaced Fraser Forster with Hart transfer?
Celtic will hope they have finally found Fraser Forster’s successor with Hart impressing – not just McGregor – since his summer transfer. His saves against Newell and Murphy on Wednesday were crucial to the Hoops winning and moving second in the table.
Newell will feel he should have done better having elected to take a touch, but Hart made himself big and closed off the near post. The stop was crucial to the result, denying Hibs an instant reply after going behind. While he later made an even better block to deny Murphy.
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