Former Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart has defended Kasper Schmeichel's importance to the club despite losing his starting position to Viljami Sinisalo. Hart, who won seven trophies during his three-year spell at Celtic, insists the 39-year-old Dane can still have a 'huge influence' on the team's title and Scottish Cup campaigns even if he's not playing.

Schmeichel has found himself on the bench after Sinisalo impressed in recent matches, including the 1-1 draw at Rangers where the 24-year-old Finn was praised for his composure. The veteran keeper faced criticism following Celtic's 4-1 home defeat to Stuttgart last month, but manager Martin O'Neill defended him and explained he had been ill before the Rangers fixture.

Hart believes Schmeichel will get opportunities before the season ends, though he's not convinced the Dane will immediately reclaim his spot. 'Sometimes it's not on the pitch,' Hart told BBC Radio Scotland, suggesting Schmeichel's experience and leadership remain valuable assets. The former England international expects Schmeichel to play a role in Celtic's remaining fixtures as they pursue silverware in what has been a challenging campaign.