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HARTSON plans Celtic return- and the Barrowlands

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John Hartson is looking forward to an emotional return to Celtic Park in the new year.

The fans favourite scored in the tribute match to Tommy Burns in May of this year just weeks before he was diagnosed with cancer.
Emergency brain surgery saved the life of the Welsh striker with a return visit to Celtic high on his wish list for the new year.
Speaking to the Celtic View he said: “I would have come up for the derby on January 3 but I had already accepted an invitation to cover the West Ham v Arsenal game between two of my former clubs.
“I’ll be up over new year but will fly down for that match. Tony Mowbray and Mark Venus have been on the phone, so has Lenny so I’ll be back soon. It’s just a case of getting my health right and sorting it out.
“I love coming back up to Celtic. I haven’t been up since my illness but I have a great relationship with Peter Lawwell and he is always inviting me up with my parents and family.
Hartson added: “I have had incredible support from everyone, the likes of Gordon Strachan, Martin O’Neill, Tony Mowbray, Bertie Auld, Billy McNeill and everyone at Celtic.
“Neil Lennon, Shaun Maloney, most of the players have got in touch to see how I am and wish me all the best. It’s great when you have that kind of support behind you.”
It’s not just Celtic Park that the striker is looking to visit- some favoured watering holes along the Gallowgate are also in his recovery plans!
He added: “When I come up to Glasgow I will go to the Barrowlands, I will go to the Celtic bars and I will talk to the supporters and have a pint with them.
“Word then gets around and people realise that you are a nice guy and for all that’s happened to me in football I am just a guy who was brought up on a council estate in Swansea.”

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