Schmeichel has role to play 'on field or not' - Hart

Kasper Schmeichel can still have "a huge influence" on the Celtic's Scottish Premiership title and Scottish Cup challenge despite a challenge to his position, says predecessor Joe Hart.

However, the former Celtic and England number one believes Denmark international Schmeichel may have to make his contribution off the pitch after Viljami Sinisalo staked his claim for the starting spot between the posts.

Schmeichel, 39, was in the spotlight for his part in the team's 4-1 home loss to Stuttgart last month and Sinisalo, 24, has started Celtic's past three games.

Manager Martin O'Neill defended the veteran keeper and explained before Sunday's league draw at Rangers that Schmeichel had been ill.

Hart, who won seven trophies in three years at Celtic before retiring, insists the challenge will be nothing new for Schmeichel.

"That's life," Hart told BBC Radio Scotland's The Saturday Show. "That's football.

"He'll have been in it before. No one has a perfect career but I think it's important now that he's still a massive part of the squad.

"You know, he still has a huge influence on the team. No getting away from it, whether he's on the field or not."