How the Celtic dressing room reacted to Joe Hart bombshell as burning ambition revealed

Stephen Welsh admits the Celtic squad was stunned when Joe Hart dropped the bombshell news he was hanging up his gloves at the end of the season.

But the defender revealed the Hoops dressing room is determined to pocket a couple more winners’ medals to give the keeper the perfect send off. Hart has been one of Brendan Rodgers' star performers for Celts this season during a campaign that’s been a struggle at times with injuries to key players and departures of big names.

The 36-year-old’s revelation he was calling it a day came as a shock amid a run of matches when the former England hero was making crucial saves to keep the Hoops in the title hunt. Hart wanted to make the call public to remove any distraction from the battle for the Premiership and while the clock is now ticking, the shot stopper’s performance levels have remained high.

Welsh admitted the news was a major blow because the Three Lions legend is a colossal presence at the club. He said: “When the news came out when he said that he was retiring, we were all a wee bit gutted, to be honest. Joe has been an absolute revelation for us. Honestly.

“Since he has come into the club, people have seen it on the pitch, but off the pitch he’s been probably a role model for young boys, lads like me. Having Harty behind me, you feel secure. Some of the saves he pulls off and anything with stuff on the pitch and off it, he’s a massive help to us.”

Welsh now wants to return the favour – by adding to Hart’s impressive medal haul. There’s a long list of established English Premier League stars coming to Scotland in the twilights of their careers and looking more interested in topping up their pensions than their honours list.

But Hart – who completed a clean sweep of