Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart has impressed both on off the pitch since joining in the summer, according to pundit Pat Bonner.
The Bhoys managed a huge and potentially title-deciding victory over Rangers in the Old Firm Derby, winning 2-1 at the Ibrox Stadium and giving Celtic a six-point gap at the top of the table with only six games left to play.
New goalkeeper Hart has been hailed as a big reason for their win over their bitter rivals and has impressed all season in his maiden campaign for the Hoops, picking up 23 clean sheets in 47 games across all competitions. (Transfermarkt)
This is mightily impressive considering the former England number one had not made a single appearance for former club Spurs during his one-year stay at the club and the options for him moving forward were looking bleaker and bleaker as the years rolled on.
However, it is not just on the pitch where Hart has impressed in Scotland. Pundit and former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner spoke about Hart’s influence on the dressing room after the game on BBC Sportsound.
Bonner stated, “I think Joe Hart has added something to the dressing room. To lose someone like Scott Brown and then have someone like him step up because it doesn’t have to be a captain, is great”.
TIF Thoughts on Joe Hart…
It certainly comes as no surprise that Hart has become an influential figure in the dressing room during his short stint with Celtic so far. We have seen the former Manchester City man wear his heart on his sleeve for years, often being the loudest on the pitch when he plays.
He left City, after racking up 340 Premier League caps, in maybe unfortunate circumstances after legendary manager Pep Guardiola came to the Etihad. Hart was shipped out for Brazilian keeper Ederson due to his vastly superior skills with the ball at his feet, something that did not sit well with a number of City fans.
Although Hart had a number of failed spells after this time in Manchester came to an end, including Torino, West Ham, Burnley, and Spurs, it is great to see him flourish in his new home in the SPL, and at such a historic club like Celtic.
Who knows what the future holds for Hart as the 34-year-old enters the twilight years of his career, but for now he is set to add one more trophy to his vast collection.