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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
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Ben Banks

Joe Hart and the Celtic transfer masterplan as ex-England goalkeeper backs up Postecoglou statement

Calling for more work after a tiring session wasn't welcomed - but Ben Foster insists Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart's mentality is something he has always admired.

The former Manchester United stopper was deputy to the then-Man City number one during England's run at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. A tough few years followed Hart across stints at Torino, Burnley and Tottenham after falling out of favour at the Citizens but last season he became a key man for Celtic as boss Ange Postecoglou claimed his first title.

Foster says that the 35-year-old has a relentless desire to get better and an aura that's hard to match. He said on his Fozcast YouTube channel : "His energy, especially in his pomp, what he brought to the group was incredible. When he started speaking, the lads in the dressing room would shut up and listen to him. They would watch him and they would listen to him.

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"He was a leader. Out on the pitch he was pure energy and pure enthusiasm. We could finish a training session and everyone is knackered.

"I definitely was as I was the oldest one there! But he wanted to do shooting, he's asking if anybody wanted to do shooting. All I was thinking was 'p**s off Joe!'"

The Premier League title winner faces a challenge from new recruit Benjamin Siegrist this season but is still expected to be Celtic number one when the Premiership title defence gets underway alongside Champions League group stage football.

Qualities underlined by Foster were clear to Postecoglou when signing him, saying last season: "Is Joe a leader? Absolutely. That was one of the reasons we brought him in.

"We identified pretty early we had lost some experience in the group and we wanted to bring some experience in.

"I thought Joe was a top-quality goalkeeper but the background we did on him showed to me he is a first-class person and a real leader in the dressing room."

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