Joe Hart has Celtic interest piqued by mind boggling record as he names relentless Parkhead standard bearers

Celtic’s ‘we never stop’ mantra from manager Ange Postecoglou has always started at the back.

And keeper Joe Hart insists he’ll never get tired of hearing he’s the benchmark, alongside skipper Callum McGregor, as standard bearers for a club’s relentless pursuit of success. The terms of endearment that his manager directs towards the former England keeper can be read elsewhere in this newspaper. But Hart admits his arrival at the Hoops almost two years ago was always about a search for excellence.

He said: “Stuff like that means a lot because it’s the kind of thing I like to be associated with. I’m pretty genuine. Cal is obviously an unreal player and a superb captain. He has stepped into a role where he has had huge boots to fill (replacing Scott Brown). Cal has not even tried to fill them – he has gone in his own direction and done a great job. I let him know straight from the off that if he needed anything from me, I would be right by his side.

“Hopefully that combination has worked but you would be in a minority here if you don’t come in and want to give your best every day. I love it here. I couldn’t be any prouder to be part of this team, this club and this city.

“I’m honoured to put the badge on and work for Celtic.”

A trip to Kilmarnock this afternoon beckons for the champions. Hart believes the constant demand to hit the heights can be a burden but, after an Old Firm win last weekend, the keeper is adamant it’s just another chance to improve on recent outings.

The Englishman, who celebrates his 36th birthday on Wednesday, said: “It was a good win over Rangers but it was a performance that we want to improve on. That’s how we work here.

"We always want to get better, always want more – and it’s no different this