Joe Hart can make Celtic history alongside Kenny Dalglish but issues Scottish Cup warning ahead of Hearts clash

It began against Braintree, led to coffee with Scottish football cult hero Colin McMenamin and could end up with a page in the history books alongside Sir Kenny Dalglish.

Joe Hart has been on a heck of a cup journey in nearly 20 years in the game and it’s not done yet. The Celtic keeper’s enthusiasm has made him a fans favourite at Parkhead and there’s no sign of the 35-year-old’s passion for silverware dimming ahead of today’s Scottish Cup last eight clash at Hearts.

Hart is not the kind of guy to look beyond the next 90 minutes, but in the background there is an incredible feat that could be within his grasp. The former England no.1 has collected Premiership and League Cup winners’ medals with Celts to add to his clean sweep of domestic honours down south with Man City. The only Celtic man to hoover up the lot on both sides of the border? Sir Kenny.

“Really?” Hart said. “Yeah, but there is a long way to go – as last season showed. We got to the Scottish Cup semi-final and it just never happened for us.

“We are at the quarter-final stage right now and I would love to be having that conversation with a medal around my neck at the end of the season. But until then, I’ll just say there is a long way ahead right now.”

He’s come a long way too though. Hart hit the heights at City but started out at Shrewsbury alongside former Dundee, Ross County and Stenhousemuir striker McMenamin, and his mind drifts back to his FA Cup debut against non-league Braintree almost 18 years ago.

Hart said: “I do remember watching the FA Cup a lot when I was younger and it always carried a lot of weight. We didn’t have Sky Sports when I was growing up so when it was live on terrestrial channels, it was a chance for me to watch serious football.

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