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Packie Bonner Has Major Questions About Celtic Star After Rodgers Return

Packie Bonner Has Major Questions About Celtic Star After Rodgers Return
Gary Connaughton
By Gary Connaughton
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With Brendan Rodgers returning to Celtic next season, it will be interesting to see how his second spell in Glasgow plays out.

The Northern Irishman was a huge hit during his previous tenure at the club, winning domestic trebles in each of his first two seasons in charge. He was also well on course for a third treble only to leave the club midway through the 2019/20 campaign.

Rodgers will no doubt look to pick up where he left off, with the club reportedly handing him a sizeable transfer budget to strengthen the squad with big domestic and continental campaigns to come.

With that in mind, he is likely to make a number of changes to the squad in the weeks ahead.

Packie Bonner has questions about Celtic star

One player that could come under pressure after Brendan Rodgers' return is Joe Hart.

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The Englishman has done well since joining Celtic a couple of years ago, although there are doubts over his fit under the returning manager.

Rodgers favours goalkeepers who are capable with their feet, something Hart has struggled with in the past. In fact, Pep Guardiola quickly moved him on after taking over at Manchester City for this very reason.

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Speaking to BBC Sportsround, former Ireland and Celtic goalkeeper Packie Bonner said that Hart has questions to answer in this regard heading into next season.

It's going to be a big season for Joe Hart. Joe fitted in really well into Ange's team, he made some mistakes along the way which all goalkeepers will do, but I don't think he was asked as many times to build the game the way that maybe Brendan would want.

Is he capable of playing from the back? Pep came into Man City and didn't allow him to get the opportunity because his analysis was he couldn't do it, so he changed and that affected his confidence big time.

I think he's done exceptionally well coming up here. He's a leader in the dressing room, he makes the big saves at the right moments which is a critical part to play for Celtic and Rangers.

You need to make big saves when you haven't been overly active in the game.

But the part of the game that we all know is about 70 or 80 per cent of your actions now is with the ball at your feet. He's done okay in it.

Is he capable of doing it under Brendan where there might be a much greater demand? That's the big question.

I think he's better than maybe some of them we've seen in the past. But is he up to the level that Brendan wants?

Listen, Brendan brought in Dorus de Vries from Swansea because of his feet and he couldn't keep the ball out of the net. So it's a balance.

It's difficult to argue with that.

Rodgers could well give Hart a chance to impress at Celtic next season, although it would not be a surprise to see him move for a new goalkeeper over the offseason.

There are certainly interesting times ahead at the club.

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