JOE Hart has put talks about his Celtic future on hold so he can concentrate fully on helping the Parkhead club to make an impact in the Champions League this season and predicted his contract situation will sort itself out if he performs at his very best in Europe.
Former England internationalist Hart, who is set to start in the opening Group E match against Dutch title holders Feyenoord here in Rotterdam this evening, is in the final year of his current deal with the Scottish champions.
Speculation abounded that Brendan Rodgers would attempt to bring in a long-term replacement for the 75-times capped 36-year-old after the Northern Irishman was appointed manager for a second time back in June.
However, the ex-Manchester City goalkeeper has been completely unaffected by the Glasgow rumour mill.
He stressed he is only interested in helping Celtic to get a result in the De Kuip this evening and then go on and enjoy a good continental campaign. He is confident that if he plays his part in a successful European run his personal situation will be settled.
“I feel good mentally and really energised,” he said. “I’m really enjoying what I’m part of at Celtic. Whatever is in the future, I don’t know. What I do know is that we’ve got an exciting game on the cards against Feyenoord.
“I’m very clear. I really love being here, I enjoy being at Celtic. But I only deal in certainties and that is that I’m here for this season. I want to do my best to be part of it.
“It’s refreshing for me not to have to constantly plan my next move or ask my agent when to go in or not go in. All of that stuff will take care of itself.
“I feel that I owe the club to give everything I’ve got and put everything into what I’m doing right now. That’s the only way I’m going to get the best out of it - and the only way I’ll potentially have a future here anyway.”
Hart added: “I’ve got respect for the football world but there are very few people out there whose opinions really matter. I mean that respectfully. After speaking to Woodsy (Celtic goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods) and Brendan, I know what I’ve got to offer.
“I offer everything I’ve got. If it’s not good enough for someone, that’s life, so be it. It hasn’t been good enough before, but it often has. I was hoping to get the chance to show that it was and we’ll see. This is still a work in progress.”
Asked about the suggestions that Celtic would sign a new goalkeeper this summer, he said: “It’s probably down to my age - or something else on any given day. I know from my past as a goalkeeper that I’m by no means perfect. If people want to angle in on something specific, they can.
“But I’ve been around a long time and if you want to make an argument about why I should be in goal there’s plenty of those too. That’s why football has so many conversations. But it’s for everyone else to talk about. In my position, I have to focus on the things I can control. Everyone else is free to say what they want.”
Hart was outstanding in Celtic’s victory over Rangers at Ibrox earlier this month and he has now kept three consecutive clean sheets. He believes there is even better to come from himself personally and the team as a whole and is relishing the chance to face Feyenoord.
“I feel good, I feel comfortable, I feel like we’re ticking over well and working well as a goalkeeping unit and as a defensive unit,” he said. “But we’ll see. There is plenty of hard work out there and plenty more for us to build on as a group.”
Hart is certain that whoever is given the nod to play in front of him at centre-half – Gustaf Lagerbielke, Nat Phillips and Liam Scales are all vying for a start in the absence of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh – will rise to the occasion once again.
“It’s going to be tough for us,” he said. “It’s going to be a fast game, really exciting. The fine margins will be on show and we need to be on it. I’m sure Feyenoord will feel the same.
“But we believe that we’ve got quality. The club has an incredible recruitment system and we’re all working hard. Whether it’s me at 36 or Gus at 23.
“Scalesy did his hard work at Aberdeen on loan last season. Did he think he’d start the games he has this season? Probably not. But has he shown up and put his body and ability on the line for all of us. Absolutely he has. That’s what we try to encourage here.”
