Forgotten stopper Conor Hazard hopes to have a chance to fight for the Celtic number one spot when he returns from his loan with HJK Helsinki.
The Northern Ireland international hasn't had a look in under Ange Postecoglou with the 24-year-old bombed out of the squad with Vasilis Barkas and Scott Bain fighting it out for the number one spot during the Australian's early tenure before the arrival of Joe Hart. Following the arrival of the England cap Hazard failed to earn a single minute of competitive action, before he was shipped out on loan to Finland.
When he returns he will also have back-up Benjamin Siegrist to compete with to even grasp a place on the bench, but the Northern Ireland cap is hoping his form with Helsinki can see him receive a second chance. He has made himself first-choice in Finland this term with the club leading the Veikkausliiga, while also enjoying glamour nights in the Europa League against the likes of Roma and Real Betis this term.
Hazard will return to to Celtic Park at the end of the Finnish league season, and hopes to be given the opportunity to compete with Hart and Siegrist for the number one spot. He told Glasgow Live : "I have had this experience of playing very well for a year, week-in-week-out, and obviously getting to the Europa League. It's not really been spoken about (his long-term future) and I haven't really put any thought into it as I have been playing every week. I'll take my break and see what happens.
"Celtic have been keeping up to date with my games. I am contracted to them for the next year-and-a-half. Celtic has always been my dream club. I have been a Celtic fan all of my life. That's never an issue. If there's an opportunity to fight for my place there, I will work as hard as I can to do that.
"I will just need to see what happens. Being Celtic number one has always been on my cards. It's why I have made all these decisions to try and get that. I haven't been able to get a full season under my belt but I have one now, so my goal is still to be Celtic's number one unless told otherwise."
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