The Championship’s joint-top scorer – and one-time Rangers target timing of Whittaker’s finish explaining why Serie A giants Lazio were – swept home a typically sumptuous winner in South Wales, the quality and theso keen to sign him during the January transfer window.
But, at the other end of the pitch, it was Plymouth’s former Celtic ‘keeper who laid the foundations for Whittaker to build upon, Conor Hazard pulling off a trio of superb stops for an Argyle side who have lost only once in nine games since promoting him to the role of ‘number one’.
He has been outstanding since I have come into the football club, and he’s going to have to be. We are Plymouth Argyle and every game for us is going to be difficult in this division,” head coach Ian Foster, who was appointed in January after Steven Schumacher left for Stoke City, tells BBC Devon.
“With eleven, we’re going to need to play pretty solid defence. Although we will do everything in our power to keep him safe, there will be occasions when he has make significant sacrifices on our behalf.
His approach and work ethic have been excellent ever since I’ve been here. He is a large boy who has demonstrated his ability to make significant saves.
Before leaving Celtic in the summer of 2023, Hazard was a member of the team for almost ten years. Though some may argue that the club’s already under fire recruitment department would have been better off keeping Hazard and instead cashing in on Scott Bain or Benjamin Siegrist, given that neither “keeper seems to be under consideration for the top job when Joe Hart’s contract expires. Hazard only made five appearances in the Scottish Premiership for the Glasgow giants.
Some stories claim Plymouth only paid £150,000 for Hazard. One of the best deals in England’s second tier is this one, so far.
As Hart prepares to become a free agent in a few months, Celtic is reportedly interested in a number of goalkeepers. However, Brendan Rodgers has already let go of Hakon Valdimarsson and Horatiu Moldovan, who have since joined Brentford and Atletico Madrid, respectively.
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