Coming into the new season, Joe Hart moved from the number 15 jersey to number 1, but at a club like Celtic, there’s always competition coming in the door to battle for the jersey.

On day one of pre-season training, Hart had four other goalkeepers for company, including new signing Ben Siegrist.

Having joined the Scottish champions after an impressive spell with Dundee United, Siegrist comes in to strengthen the goalkeeping union, and the former England internationalist has been impressed with what he’s seen from the Swiss stopper.

Speaking exclusively to Celtic TV, he said: “He’s been great, he’s a familiar face with what he did at Dundee United.

“He’s a big welcoming guy and it’s important we work together and appreciate that he’s coming in to make the group better.

“He will come in and only improve us as a squad and we can only welcome that.

“I’ve always had the same mentality that I can only do what I do, it’s not about Ben, or Scott Bain, or anyone else.

'I can only put myself in the best position and put myself in the best place I can and work to the best of my ability, that’s all I can offer and that’s what I focus on.'

Pre-season is where the hard work begins for Hart and the rest of the group as they head to Austria and then the Czech Republic, allowing the team to bond together on and off the park.

At 35, Hart has been on numerous trips like these before and he believes they are vital to pushing the team further forward during the season.

He added: “These are great times and moments for the group, a group that’s still fairly new.

“We have a lot of time together to grow and to sort the dynamic and the habits we want as a team.

“The manager has plenty he wants to implement but we have to do that as players as well and as soon as everyone is pulling in the same direction, then you have a chance to succeed.”

Joe Hart: Ben Siegrist is a top keeper and will make us stronger