Joe Hart won't let Celtic blunder break him as Josip Juranovic explains Motherwell mix up

He might have been a scapegoat in Leipzig. But for the Champions League return tie on Tuesday night, Joe Hart will be a key senior Celtic figure. And in the absence of injured captain Callum McGregor - Josip Juranovic says he’s the natural leader of Ange Postecoglou’s side.

Hart was the fall guy in Germany when his blunder pass allowed Andre Silva to score and take the Group F game away from Celtic. RB Leipzig eventually won 3-1 meaning the Hoops have to take something at Parkhead on Tuesday night. With McGregor missing, they’ll need a figurehead. A voice in the dressing-room and on the pitch against the Bundesliga outfit.

And Juranovic is convinced that Hart is the man to do it, despite heavy criticism for his display in midweek. He pulled off an outstanding save to deny Stevie May in Saturday's win over St Johnstone but in their previous Premiership game, a mix-up between the Croat and his keeper resulted in an own goal for Motherwell. But when it comes to being a replacement for McGregor, Juranovic has no doubts about the former England number one's credentials.

He said: “Tuesday will be a big night for Joe and one where he can show once again who he is. Joe is our second leader. He’s a great character and an excellent goalkeeper. He made a mistake in Germany but there is no way it will break him. Because he’s a champion. He has been for so many years now.

“As Joe said after the game, we play the way the manager wants us to play. It’s an attacking way, which the players want, and it puts individuals under pressure at certain moments. So mistakes are going to happen. But they don’t outweigh all the good things that we produce as a team.

“For example, if you look at our Champions League matches so far, we have