Hartsson has score to settle at Tynecastle
Celtic have it all to play for when they take on Hearts in the Bank of Scotland Premier League‘s top-of-the-table clash on New Year‘s Day.
But John Hartson has revealed he has more incentive than anyone for grabbing the goals at Tynecastle.
The Celtic striker has enjoyed a prolific career in front of goal since arriving at Parkhead four and a half years ago, celebrating his 100th goal for the club earlier in the season.
But Tynecastle is the only SPL ground where he has failed to find the net and he hopes it is about to change.
“I‘ve never scored there,” Hartson said. “It‘s the only ground in the SPL I‘ve never scored at so it‘s a challenge for me.
“It‘s always a difficult game there. Steven Pressley and Andy Webster are two big, strong boys and it‘s always competitive with a good atmosphere.”
Four points separate SPL leaders Celtic and Hearts and Hartson admits he did not expect the Edinburgh club to be their main title rivals.
He said: “I think they have surprised everybody, not only the way they started, the way they have sustained it.
“They won their game last week 5-0 and they are a very good side so we are expecting a hard game.”
Roy Keane will not feature at Tynecastle but he has taken part in training sessions with his new team-mates after being introduced to 60,000 ecstatic Celtic fans ahead of their Boxing Day clash against Livingston.
And, even though the Parkhead faithful will have to wait a little while longer to see him in action, Hartson has tipped the former Manchester United star to take the SPL by storm.
“We have had some games and he‘s enjoying it,” he said.
“He‘ll love it here and he will be a great player for Celtic.
“He‘s looking like the Roy Keane of old. Nothing changes. He is still the top-class player everyone knows he.”
Manager Gordon Strachan recently told his players to toughen up and adopt a more physical game but Hartson reckons the boss will have no problems with Keane on that front.
He added: “He‘s not the type to go around kicking youngsters in training, he probably saves that for the games!
“He‘s very competitive and, if you take that competitive edge out of his game, like a lot of us, he‘s not the same player.”
