‘OLD DONKEY’ HART’S TRIBUTE TO ANGE

REJUVENATED Joe Hart has thanked Ange Postecoglou for making “an old donkey like me feel young again”.

In football parlance, it looked as though the 75 times-capped England international keeper’s “future was behind him” when it was made clear in the summer by the-then Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo that he had no chance of featuring in the London club’s first team.

Enter Celtic with a £1million bid for the netminder, who celebrated his 35th birthday 17 days ago, and the one-time Manchester City No.1 was delighted to agree a three-year contract.

Hart made a quickfire debut for the Hoops only a couple of days of signing and played in the 4-2 Europa League qualifier win over FK Jablonec in the Czech Republic on August 5.

The shotstopper has now become a fixture in the top side with Scott Bain and Vasilis Barkas making only one appearance each in the 54 games since the arrival of the veteran.

Hart is now preparing for his stint between the sticks against Hearts at Parkhead at midday tomorrow as the Hoops have the opportunity go nine points clear with only two games to play.

The fans’ favourite, speaking of the qualities of Postecoglou, told BeIn Sports: “I’ve loved working with him, I have been so impressed by him. He’s a top manager and a top coach.

“I’m 35, football could run out on me. It could just be a game to me. I’m not a young kid coming into training every day, wanting to learn, wanting to improve.

“That’s probably the biggest compliment I can pay him because he has made an old donkey like me feel young again.”