Setbacks stoke Hartson fire

By Pete Sanderson

These have been tough times for Celtic FC striker John Hartson. Last year he experienced the agony of missing out on a major final due to one slightly overzealous tackle in which he injured his back. This season, the Welsh international has seen two of his footballing dreams go up in smoke within the space of three weeks.

Unhappy ending
First the 28-year-old was forced to cancel his dream ticket to a major finals in Portugal as Wales limped out of UEFA EURO 2004™ at the hands of Russia. Then, with a UEFA Champions League knockout place at their mercy, his club side Celtic crashed out of the competition, conceding a goal with just four minutes remaining against French champions Olympique Lyonnais.

Soldiering on
"Those three weeks hurt like hell," said the striker, who has been named Welsh Footballer of the Year twice in three years. "And to be honest I am fed up with hard luck stories. You sometimes wonder if the football gods are doing it to you deliberately and you are never destined to achieve the dreams you had as a kid. It hurts even more when you consider I missed last season's UEFA Cup final through a back injury after I slipped a disc in my back during a game."

Thinking positive
But, for all his woes, Hartson remains philosophical, setting his sights on another successful UEFA Cup campaign and reacquainting himself with the Scottish Premier League trophy after Rangers FC stole Celtic's thunder last season. "I guess the only way to get through a time like that in football is to think positively," he said. "Celtic are top of the table in Scotland and still in the UEFA Cup and Wales have got a good [FIFA] World Cup draw so it's onwards and upwards!"

Journeyman professional
At 28, Hartson still has time on his side as he strives to achieve his two ultimate career goals. Certainly, his bulldog spirit and swashbuckling style have made him something of a hero wherever he has played and his Celtic manager Martin O'Neill was the first to admit that if dreams were realised on the basis of effort alone he would have fulfilled his ambitions long ago.

Final appearance
"I was gutted for John when he missed out on the UEFA Cup final and a place in the Champions League knockout phase because he has been immense for both us and Wales both this season and last," said O'Neill. "But if anyone can deal with it he can - I just hope he gets chance to put the record straight one day."

Fans favourite
Indeed, whereas Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy receive many of the plaudits outside Wales for their recent success, the true connoisseurs of the game recognise that the Welsh only tick when Hartson plays. Not only was he top scorer in their EURO 2004™ campaign, taking his international goals' tally to ten in 35 games, his physical presence up front enabled coach Mark Hughes to introduce a successful 4-5-1 approach.

Date with England
"I get this incredible surge of pride when I represent my country," said Hartson. "I know we did not qualify in the end for Portugal but we did not disappoint anyone. We pushed Italy all the way and finished second in a group where we were seeded fourth. Now we must focus on World Cup qualifying where we meet our old foes England - it should be interesting!"