CONOR HAZARD, Celtic’s quadruple treble hero, faces the crunch when he returns to Parkhead at the end of the year when his loan at HJK Helsinki expires.
The 24-year-old Northern Ireland international keeper will see his temporary transfer at the Finnish champions end on December 31.
Hazard, of course, took the Hoops headlines when he saved two penalty-kicks in the shoot-out against Hearts to ensure the Scottish Cup was won in December 2020 to complete the phenomenal TWELVE domestic trophies in a row for the club.
However, he found himself surplus to requirements when Ange Postecoglou brought in 75 times-capped England netminder Joe Hart in a £1million three-year switch from Spurs in August 2021.
BALL BHOY…Conor Hazard goes through a training routine.
And former Dundee United No.1 Benji Siegrist arrived in the summer with the 30-year-old Swiss star agreeing a four-year deal.
Scott Bain, also 30, is under contract until May 31 2024 and the one-time Scotland international shotstopper has found himself third in the pecking order at the title winners.
It will be make-your-mind-up-time for Hazard, who has made a mere seven first-team appearances, when his Hoops deal expires on May 31 next year. The club could offer him an extension, but the beanpole Irishman will be aware his chances of first-team football are remote.
Hart, 35, Siegrist and Bain looked to have adequately filled that slot in Postecoglou’s squad while there are high hopes for England youth keeper Tobi Oluwayemi.
As well as HJK Helsinki, Hazard has had loan stints at Falkirk, Partick Thistle and Dundee.
It could be that the likeable last line of defence will be on his travels again in 2023.
