Micah Richards makes huge claim about Celtic star

You get a great insight into a player when you line up alongside them week after week. Micah Richards did that with current Celtic goalkeeper, Joe Hart, during their years playing together at Manchester City.

Back then, Manchester City had started to establish themselves as one of the biggest teams in European football. Thus, there was plenty of pressure on Hart to show his strength and character, and he delivered and then some.

Richards reckons Hart is a key man for Celtic as they get closer to securing the Scottish Premiership title. The Hoops are still 6 points clear at the top of the table with just 3 more league games remaining.

Richards sees Hart as a hard working leader, and that’s just what the Hoops needed in goal this season after the disastrous 2020/21 campaign, when there was no certainty between the posts for them. As reported by the Daily Record, the pundit said about his former Manchester City teammate to the Daily Mail:

"“Joe Hart is just a brilliant character.“Forget the footballer for a minute. If you ever want someone to be in the trenches with, it’s him.“He works harder than everyone else. People talk about his natural ability but in the changing room he is one of the leaders. He’s one where standards don’t drop.“There have been times where he’s been seen by some as, I don’t know… too emotional? But he’s not.“He’s passionate. And he loves football.“His experience going into the end of this title run-in for Celtic is going to be pivotal.”"

Hart backed to be pivotal in Celtic’s Premiership title run in

Hart’s leadership qualities have shone through since he joined Celtic in the summer from Tottenham Hotspur. And he’s clearly enjoying his time at the club too. Despite a hectic and frenzied Glasgow Derby on Sunday, he does not appear to be losing sight of the ultimate goal. As reported by the Daily Record, the goalkeeper said:

"“We’ve come through a lot, we are pleased with where we are and we’ve got a job to do. And that continues.”"

Since Hart arrived at the club, he has impressed with his focussed approach. He has filled a serious goalkeeping gap at the club after Vasilis Barkas failed to perform last season.

With almost an entirely new defence, it needed someone with authority and a commanding style between the posts to make the backline work. Hart has done exactly that and become a key man at the club for sure. At 35 years of age, he might not be the long-term solution for Celtic but they could not have asked for a better short-term one.