![Celtic's Greek Australian head coach Ange Postecoglou attends a press conference at Celtic Park in Glasgow on October 24, 2022, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League Group F football match against Shakhtar Donetsk. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP) / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by ANDY BUCHANAN has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Celtic's Greek Australian head coach Ange Postecoglou] instead of [Celtic's English goalkeeper Joe Hart ]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/9dce004c691f42eb863841de1e075dd817c90867bff36d432d1784948871668a.jpg "Celtic's Greek Australian head coach Ange Postecoglou attends a press conference at Celtic Park in Glasgow on October 24, 2022, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League Group F football match against Shakhtar Donetsk. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP) / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by ANDY BUCHANAN has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Celtic's Greek Australian head coach Ange Postecoglou] instead of [Celtic's English goalkeeper Joe Hart ]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)")
Celtic’s squad has undergone a drastic overhaul since the arrival of Ange Postecoglou as manager. When the Australian was appointed, the depth was paper thin and in the first half of the 2021/22 campaign, he had to often play people out of position in order to deal with injury problems. The difference between now and then is extraordinary.
Celtic have had to deal with injuries to key players like Carl Starfelt, Jota, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Callum McGregor, who is still out, this season as well. But they have dealt with the absences much better this time around, thanks to having multiple options in the same position.
One area where they are particularly strong is goalkeeper. Joe Hart is covered by Benjamin Siegrist and Scott Bain. On the other hand, they have two terrific youngsters in Josh Clarke and Tobi Oluwayemi coming up through the youth ranks.
Thus, it is hard to see Conor Hazard getting any significant playing time anytime in the near future. As a result, a move away from Celtic might be the best step forward for him from here, after having an impressive loan spell at HJK Helsinki. As reported by Football Insider, Frank McAvennie said about the situation:
"“It is soul destroying leaving Celtic but if you are not getting a game you have to.“You do not realise how big a club it is until you walk out the door. Footballers love football and he will be wanting to play. I think Celtic will let him go in January and maybe let him go on the cheap.“"
Celtic player tipped to leave in January after impressing out on loan
Not only did Hazard go on to win the league title in Finland with HJK Helsinki but he was selected by the club’s fans as the Player of the Season as well.
Thus, it is difficult to see him going from there to come back to Parkhead and sit on the bench once again. He might be too good to be doing that.
So, leaving Celtic might be the best path for his career from here on forward, even though it might be a difficult step for him. Some might even feel that he was not given a fair shake, after his heroic performance in the Scottish Cup final win that sealed the Quadruple Treble.