Hartson puts title before personal triumph
John Hartson knows this could be a season of personal milestones but the Celtic striker insists one aim above all others will carry him through the campaign – winning the title.
He admits he is still reeling from the events which took place on the final day of last season when Celtic effectively gifted the championship to rivals Rangers.
That their Old Firm rivals have fallen into freefall this season and look unlikely to mount a successful defence of their title provides little solace for the Wales international.
Losing a trophy which should have had Celtic’s name etched on it still rankles. But it hasn’t all been doom and gloom for Hartson.
His effort against Falkirk a couple of weeks ago allowed him to join an elite club of Celts who have netted a century of goals and, with a tally of 10 so far this season, the striker has aspirations of topping the SPL’s goalscoring charts for a second consecutive year.
But Hartson admits nothing other than reclaiming the Bank of Scotland Premier League title can exorcise the lingering ghosts of last season.
He said: “I’d like to think I’d be up there challenging [as top goalscorer] but my main target for this season – my only target, really – is to get the title back.
“The way last season ended was a massive kick in the teeth for everyone at the club and it’s incredibly frustrating to know we gifted a championship that should have been ours to the club’s biggest rivals.”
He added: “Hitting the hundred means a lot to me – people close to me know that – and all the more so because this is a club that I’ve got a real affection for now.”
Hartson has assured supporters he has no intention of quitting the club despite sporadic appearances this season.
The 30-year-old spent last month warming the bench and settling for cameo roles, prompting him to hold talks with Gordon Strachan.
The Celtic manager explained his absence from team was to allow him to deal with the breakdown of his marriage – his wife and children have returned to Wales – and Hartson said he was satisfied with the explanation.
He told Celtic View: “I think I’m a big part of the manager’s plans here, especially for this season.
“But there’s always been speculation about me wherever I’ve been in my career and maybe there always will be.
“I did have a little chat with the gaffer a few weeks back and he made it clear it was purely for personal reasons I was being left out.
“I appreciated that and I feel a lot fresher and clearer in my head now I’m back in the side.”
