Keeping An Eye On No.1

Conor Hazard feels the benefit of being in Austria with the first-team squad

- Paul Cuddihy And Louise Gould

AFTER three years of developing his skills with the Celtic Academy, keeper, Conor Hazard has been away in Austria for pre-season with the first team, and has his sights set on wearing the No.1 jersey in the future.

The young Irishman signed a two-year contract last month, securing his place with the Hoops until June 2019 and, despite Craig Gordon and Dorus de Vries both being in the squad, the 19-year-old featured against BW Linz and Rapid Vienna, keeping a clean sheet in both.

The young Hoops stopper sat down with the View while in Prague, to talk about his first experience away with the Bhoys.

What have been your overall impressions of being away with the first team on pre-season?

 It’s been brilliant. It’s completely different from Glasgow, and the weather has been superb. Training in hot conditions has also been good for fitness. The standard from the very start as always has been excellent. It’s been great being here, just class. Hopefully there’s many more to come and we have a good season ahead.

Has it helped having healthy competition with the other young goalkeeper, Ross Doohan?

There’s great competition between all of the young goalies. It’s good for both of us because we are learning from the likes of Craig and Dorus, two top-drawer goalies. You’re always picking up and being taught new things every day. It’s been really good to get away.

Did you have any expectations coming into the pre-season in Austria?