Opinion: Celtic star won’t be intimidated if cup clash goes all the way

Celtic’s game against Rangers in the Scottish Cup this weekend will be different from any of the three previous derbies the teams have played this season as it could go to extra time and penalties if required.

 That will no doubt add extra tension to the match for the crowd, and who knows, perhaps some of the players.

There is one Celtic player that likely won’t be intimidated by the prospect of a penalty shootout is Hoops number one goalkeeper Joe Hart. Hart is a player that has seen and done it all in his career.

Playing 75 times for England and in three major tournaments for his country shows that Hart won’t be overawed by the atmosphere at Hampden, where it will be a rare 50/50 split when it comes to fans attending the game.

Looking at Hart’s penalty record overall, he has faced 62 penalties for club and country, and 16 of them have been missed. In his time at Celtic, he has faced four so far, with one being missed, when Liam Boyce hit the post for Hearts at Tynecastle.

Hart has played in a penalty shootout for England in Euro 2012, and they lost 4-2 on penalties, so if he wants to make up that defeat, being a penalty hero in a shootout against Rangers seems to be the ideal opportunity.

Hart has been one of Celtic’s best signings of the season, his vast experience instantly making him one of the most important players in the side. As he is 34-years-old, Hart could be the Celtic number one as long as he stays in form and stays fit for a few years yet.

Hart will presumably be pleased with how this season has gone so far, as he is playing regular football once more, which he wasn’t doing when he was at Spurs, who he joined Celtic from. That is presumably why he moved to Celtic, and after a bit of a shaky start he has