There's been a lot of talk since Kasper Schmeichel replaced Joe Hart in between the sticks for Celtic that the Scottish champions have bagged themselves an upgrade.

Upgrade: raising (something) to a higher standard, in particular, improve. The 'u' word would be very disparaging and a tad disrespectful to the talents of former England and Manchester City No.1. Hart was a great goalkeeping servant for Celtic. He will always be remembered fondly by the Celtic supporters.

What cannot be denied, however, is the change in goalkeeper has been nothing short of seamless since the Danish No.1 joined Celtic. Schmeichel equalled a long-standing piece of Scottish football history at the weekend when he kept a clean sheet for the fifth league game in succession. It's 118 years since Tom Sinclair managed that same feat as the Celtic custodian.

Sinclair like Schmeichel was the last Celtic goalkeeper to record five shutouts in his first five games for the club back in 1906 ironically whilst he was on loan from Rangers. The Dane will now be hoping that he can translate his domestic form onto the European stage where Celtic compete on Wednesday night against Slovan Bratislava in Glasgow's east end in the inaugural Champions League league phase.

If Schmeichel can keep another clean sheet not only he will surpass Sinclair's record but more importantly, the club will also feel that they can banish the ghost of the Champions League past by claiming back-to-back wins at the elite club level after last season's 2-1 win over Feyenoord at Parkhead in their last group match.

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The Celtic supporters who craved an upgrade on Hart during the summer when Brendan Rodgers was searching for a goalkeeper may well have got their wish. Hart was a great goalkeeper for Celtic. Schmeichel thus far is arguably proving to be a better one.

From the moment Schmeichel waged a personal war against Manchester City striker Erling Haaland in the pre-season friendly between the two sides in the USA, the Celtic fans were in raptures. Schmeichel has slotted in brilliantly and like Hart has shown that he can be solid, reliable and dependable. He also inspires confidence in his defenders.

His concentration levels are also at an all-time high. That's been evident in the last two Scottish Premiership matches against Rangers and Hearts. Schmeichel kept his clean sheet record going by making two stunning late stops from Rangers midfielder Ross McAusland when he spread himself big to block and then got down smartly to smother an effort from Jambos Musa Drammeh when he ought to have equalised for the Edinburgh men. The save in particular from McAusland drew comparisons to his old man Peter as well as former Celtic goalkeeping favourites Artur Boruc and Fraser Forster.

It's also refreshing to hear that Schmeichel is not too hung up on keeping clean sheets as long as Celtic win. However, he gave the Celtic supporters a unique insight into his goalkeeping mindset when he spoke to the club TV station ahead of the Hearts clash. Schmeichel said: "I'm with supporters on that one. As long as the team wins then that's all that matters. Keepers will always be judged and measured on clean sheets and I have never really understood it.

"You can only get one (clean sheet) per game. It is not like a goal when you can get more per game. If Rangers had scored in the last minute then I would have lost my clean sheet. That doesn't mean we haven't been dominant, it doesn't mean we haven't played a great game. It is not a measuring factor. What pleases me is the little I have had to do in terms of the saves I make or be involved in.

"Being a goalkeeper is not about making saves anymore. It is about your footwork.  "That is the goalkeeping role now. Now and again a player will come along and redefine the role of a goalkeeper. Manuel Neuer in 2014 changed the perception of a goalkeeper as he took the sweeper-keeper to an extreme level. Ederson under Pep Guardiola is another who takes the playing out from the back to a new level.

"Goalkeeping is constantly setting new boundaries, pushing and breaking boundaries and being part of a team that is pushing all the time to go and win. The demands are that you have to go and win. You have to be a progressive team that is looking to press. As a goalkeeper, you have to be able to adapt your game to whatever the situation is and it is important to have that variation.

"The bread and butter for a goalkeeper is still making saves. I haven't had many to make which means we are functioning well as a team and that pleases me more than anything."

(Image: Alan Harvey) The one area where Celtic supporters do insist that the club have upgraded in terms of their goalkeeper is in the distribution department. The stats from Saturday's game made impressive reading for Schmeichel. He hit 20 out of 20 short passes and two out of two long accurate passes.

If that wasn't enough he bowled a beautiful curled pass from his hand right that spun straight to the feet of Maeda in the second half that had to be seen to be believed. He threw it like a pitcher from Major League Baseball - it was that good.

You get the feeling that Schmeichel's presence and experience will be as invaluable to Celtic as Hart's was. Hart was a big voice and made a big noise in the Celtic dressing room. A quick watch of the new Celtic documentary 'Inside The Huddle' will show the supporters exactly what qualities Hart brought to the table.

There was a wonderful moment at the weekend which did the rounds on social media before Celtic captain Callum McGregor called the players for the traditional pre-match huddle against Hearts. Schmeichel was doing all the talking just like Hart geeing up his teammates and dishing out some last-minute advice and pointers.

The 37-year-old deferred to his skipper though as soon as McGregor motioned that it was time to get together. The more things change, the more things stay the same, right? It showed that Schmeichel just like his predecessor is a big voice and presence as well as being a big player for Celtic.

Hart was a superb player and leader for Celtic. Schmeichel can prove that he is all of that and more by being a big player and leader for Celtic on Wednesday night as the Scottish champions look to get their first match in the inaugural Champions League league phase against Slovan Bratislava off to the proverbial flyer at Parkhead.

Incidentally, another clean sheet would see Schmeichel create a new record in the process. This is exactly why Rodgers brought Schmeichel to the club. To perform on the Champions League stage. Schmeichel has made quite the impact so far in his short time at the club. He could well be the crucial difference as Celtic attempt to reach the knockout phase in Europe. Schmeichel looks the part and plays the part and he looks like he has been a Celtic player for years. Celtic are in good hands.

As for Schmeichel being an upgrade on Hart, it's for every Celtic supporter to wrestle with their own individual conscience on that particular issue.

"What's the Goalie, Dane?" Hopefully, keeping another clean sheet for Celtic come Wednesday night.

As Rodgers would say: "That's the plan."