JOE HART has proved he is a screen star as well as being the answer to Celtic’s No.1 problem.
The 34-year-old England keeper has been an instant success at the Hoops since his £1million arrival from Spurs in August as part of Ange Postecoglou’s squad revamp.
Hart has had 19 clean sheets in his 38 games and hopes for another shut-out when he faces the Norwegians of Bodo/Glimt in the Europa Conference League encounter at Parkhead tomorrow night.
Off the field, the netminder, who played 75 times for his country, is also proving to be a success.
Hart took time off from preparing for the Euro challenge to send a video message to a young fan who was told he was too small to play between the posts.
A supporter explained that his friend’s eight-year-old son has taken up goalkeeping, but has been on the receiving end of some barbed comments from classmates for not having the physique to play in the last line of defence.
His dad reached out to Hart and the former Manchester City shotstopper responded with a video message.
Hart told the fan: “Keep your head up, keep pushing. Play in goal because you love it, that is literally the only reason that I play, mate.
“I know that I am very lucky to be playing in the position that I am, but one of the main reasons that I play in goal is because I absolutely love it, I don’t care what anyone else thinks, what anyone says.
“I do it because it makes me smile, you do the same, mate, and you’ll do great.”
And the boy’s father revealed on social media that the video was just the tonic his son required.
He wrote on Twitter: “Jack’s been buzzing since Joe sent it – and what a guy Joe is for taking the time to send it.
“He’s been tremendous since I first got in touch.”
my mates wee boy has took up goalkeeping and has been getting bullied by other kids for being to wee,so ma m8 messaged Joe to try n pick him up n get him lifted on an off chance n look at this 👏 top lad @JoeHart_20 credit to yerself and club @CelticFC #monthegoalies pic.twitter.com/ScPWSdKVln
— stephen O'neill (@stevie075) February 15, 2022
