Gianluigi Buffon believes Joe Hart is back to his brilliant best having found true love and a proper home at Celtic.
The Parkhead keeper is enjoying a sensational campaign as the rock on which Ange Postecoglou has built his title charge.
Hart admitted to the Aussie gaffer before he needed love to be a success at the club and his relationship with the fans has blossomed after a string of top-class shows.
The 34-year-old has returned to flying form less than a year after being written-off at the top level and booted out of the Spurs door by Portuguese boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
However, Hart has proved the doubters wrong after a three-year spell in the wilderness prior to move to Celtic.
And the Englishman’s outstanding comeback to the big time has received the ultimate seal of approval from Italian goalkeeping legend Buffon.
The World Cup winner, regarded by some as the best to ever don a pair of gloves, is delighted to see Hart back to peak.
Buffon said: “The way Joe is playing this season is no surprise to me he has always been a great goalkeeper. He just needed a place to call home again.
“He is a player I watched develop and I saw he had everything that was needed to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
“It was not that long ago that I called him one of the top three or four goalkeepers in the world.
“Along with (Manuel) Neuer, (David) De Gea and (Jan) Oblak, these guys were the next generation who could take over from myself and (Iker) Casillas.
“That player who was No.1 for Manchester City and England didn’t go away. He just needed to find his confidence again.
“I have always said you have to be a little bit crazy to be a goalkeeper because you are so isolated.
“As a defender, you are part of a defence. As a midfielder, part of a midfield. But the goalkeeper is the isolated player on the field.
“You make a mistake and all eyes are on you. That is what happened with Joe.
"He made a couple of mistakes and people just decided he was not top level anymore.
“He needed a bit of love to find his level again and he has obviously got that love at Celtic. The top player is back and it is good to see.”
