Celtic keeper Joe Hart opens up on the respect agenda but 'needs to be careful with my words' when speaking about love

Joe Hart is already a favourite with the Celtic support, and the affinity could be witnessed in the keeper giving his top to a fan following Celtic's win over Ferencvaros on Tuesday. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group)

Celtic and Joe Hart appear to have the makings of a perfect match.

The 34-year-old has put behind him abusive relationships to find a union at Celtic Park that he can wrap in his full embrace … and feel the same affection in return. The England international doesn’t shy away from such warmth being denied him in the years before his Celtic summer move. The player never lost his passion for the game, he maintains, after being discarded and publicly demeaned through not being the apple of Pep Guardiola’s eye at Manchester City. But feeling the appreciation from manager Ange Postecoglou and the Celtic support has given him back a zest previously diminished, recent spells at Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur not turning out as he wanted.

"I need to be careful with my words,” said the Celtic keeper. “I didn't necessarily fall out of love with the game. Never have I ever not loved football, and I doubt I will. But the industry, the business side of it … I didn't love. That's not me being a victim. I get it. I get that football is cut-throat and there are lots of people who have a lot of opinions. I fell on the wrong side of a lot of them.