A MATTER of weeks ago, I wrote a piece depicting why Callum McGregor was the only viable candidate to succeed Scott Brown as captain of Celtic Football Club.

In recent weeks, what was outlined within that piece, has been shown in abundance.

I can pat myself on the back for that to a degree – but not even I expected McGregor to shine so quickly with the armband around his bicep.

Some disagreed and didn't see McGregor as a leader – I’d love to hear what they think now – but when asked who they’d have instead, there was always a hesitation, which was far from a good sign.

Over the years, it’s been evident there is a leadership team at the club. Perhaps not to the degree of say, Barcelona, who have a tradition of naming a core of leaders, but at the very least, a strong vice-captain – a role McGregor has undertaken in recent times.

Mikael Lustig, Virgil Van Dijk, Stefan Johansen all stood up in recent times to be vocal figures in harmony with Scott Brown – singing from the same hymn sheet, so to speak.

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Yet while McGregor was the natural heir to Brown’s throne, the successor to his was less evident. In all honesty, the worthy contenders were worryingly low when looking around the dressing-room.

Christopher Jullien has been a commanding figure since his arrival – what you expect from a £7 million defender. If he was a mainstay and hadn’t had his Celtic career hindered by a long-term injury, I’d expect there to be very few objections to a vice-captaincy label headed his way.

However, that hasn’t been the case and indeed, the lack of leaders within the current Celtic squad is alarming. Or, it certainly was up until recent days.

Epitomised in the dying – yet crucial – minutes of the tie against AZ Alkmaar, it appears a certain Joe Hart has solved more than just the positional issue of goalkeeper at the Hoops.

A clip that has, rightfully, been shared from pillar to post on social media the past few days sees Hart charge to Ange Postecoglou to discuss the pressure the defence were enduring in the final few moments. Then the former England number one is seen relaying that information off to McGregor and Stephen Welsh.

What followed suggests that Hart was aware that playing out from the back was inviting pressure, and instead, opted to go long to Odsonne Edouard – buying him and his defence some breathing time.

And that is just one occasion. Throughout the night, Hart’s voice could be heard roaring on the side. A well-highlighted frailty in recent Celtic teams has been their organisation at set-pieces – not on Wednesday night. Instantaneously, he was setting up his green and white shield.

Not to mention his enormous saves, which ultimately kept the home side in the tie. It could’ve all been so different if it wasn’t for his stretched right boot in the opening minutes.

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Perhaps this could be seen as excessive – ‘experienced goalkeeper brings experience’ – but it’s much more than that.

It’s his adaptability, his confidence, and his composure. All of which have improved the quality of football Postecoglou’s side are playing.

Any fan who claims to have foreseen Hart as being the answer to not one, but two of Celtic’s summer cries, are simply telling porky pies. It’s still a bit mad that Joe Hart is the Celtic keeper.

Once ridiculed, from a Scottish perspective, for angrily kicking an advertisement board in the 2014 World Cup for England – the shot-stopper has visibly matured.

Already, his importance is unquestionable. This is your new vice-captain. He’s head and shoulders above the rest.