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News
‘Top class’… 25-year-old who Celtic sold last summer now shines for his national team last night
As the international break slowly comes to an end, the Celtic fans will be looking forward to the Scottish Premiership resuming on Saturday afternoon.
With Brendan Rodgers having 14 players currently away with their national sides, it’s a player who left in the summer that has been impressing during this international break that may have the Celtic manager looking back with interest.
Conor Hazard was allowed to leave to join Plymouth Argyle in July and has, by and large, been performing well for the English Championship side even though they are hovering just six points above the relegation zone.
However, last night Hazard started against Matt O’Riley’s Denmark and looking at the reports from the media, the 25-year-old goalkeeper had a brilliant game for Michael O’Neill’s side.
: “Another opportunity to impress for the Plymouth keeper despite criticism during the defeat in Finland.
“Good instinctive saves from a Joachim Andersen header and a shot by Morten Hjulmand. Handled well under pressure and top-class injury-time save from Jonas Wind’s drive.”
: “Conor Hazard 7. Two important blocks at the end of the first half from the ‘keeper.”
: “Conor Hazard, again deputing for the injured Bailey Peacock-Farrell in the home goal, then made two fine saves, the first a superb reaction stop to deny Andersen and the second another great reaction as he had to adjust his feet to save with his legs from a 20-yard Morten Hjulmand strike.”
Have Celtic let a potential Joe Hart heir leave the club too early?
Listen, I get it, Hazard was at the club for a number of years but was never really given a chance to show what he could do.
Since joining Celtic in 2014, Hazard made just seven appearances for the club. His most notable being his heroics in the 2020 Scottish Cup Final where he saved two penalties to seal the Quadruple Treble.
Hazard had a successful loan spell at HJK Helsinki where he helped the Finnish side to the Veikkausliiga League title.
He made 39 appearances that season and won the Goalkeeper of the Season Award.
Now at Argyle, the 25-year-old has made eleven appearances and is now making waves at international level. []
With Joe Hart’s contract currently running well into its final year at the club, Celtic will need to address the goalkeeping position sooner rather than later.
So the question would be this. Did Celtic let him go too early and he is now flourishing with the more first-team exposure he is currently getting? Could he have taken over Joe Hart’s mantle?
Or is it simply that he was never good enough to be a Celtic ‘keeper and the right choice was made in letting him go?
In other news, ‘Best midfielder in Scotland’… Peter Martin says Celtic have a player who’s better than Matt O’Riley