Source: Team_Talk
Mowbray: Hoops behind Hartson
The 34-year-old ex-Arsenal and Celtic player was told he had testicular cancer last week and the disease spread to his brain before doctors confirmed it was also present in his lungs.
Hartson underwent surgery at Morriston Hospital in Swansea on Tuesday and he is reported to be critical but stable.
Mowbray's time as a player at Celtic player in the early 1990s was blighted by the death of his wife Bernadette from breast cancer.
The Parkhead boss empathised with the plight of Hartson, whom he had as a player at West Brom, and insists the Welshman will enjoy the support of everyone at Celtic.
"The force of the Celtic family behind you becomes very evident at times of adversity," Mowbray said. "I felt it a lot of years ago when I was at this football club.
"Hopefully, in what is his recovery period back to good health, he will feel the warmth of the Celtic family behind him.
"I had the pleasure of working with him for a couple of years at West Brom. While it was a difficult time for John with his fitness levels, I felt we developed an honest relationship between a manager and a player and I think there was mutual respect of what each other was going through.
"I can only wish him the best because the bottom line is he is a good man, his heart is in the right place.
"Whatever John Hartson has been through in life, the highs and the lows in his football career, he is a good person and we wish him well and our thoughts and prayers are with him and the people who love him.
"We speculate about the future of football matches but let's hope John has a long and healthy future ahead of him and he overcomes the battle he faces at the moment."
