Thursday, 3rd October, 2013
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart's recent slump has not endangered his England chances with manager Roy Hodgson including him in the World Cup qualifiers squad as "still my number one".
Hart was one of several Manchester City players to have an off game last night, as the Blues were comfortably beaten 3-1 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
The 26-year-old was once head and shoulders above the rest of England's goalkeepers, especially in Manchester City's title-winning 2011/12 season, but has struggled to reproduced that level of form of late.
Last night's game, where Hart let slip a Franck Ribery strike from range under his hand, again brought out the critics but Hodgson has reaffirmed his faith.
relatedNewsStory
"As far as I'm concerned Joe Hart is my number one", Hodgson told a press conference relayed by the BBC. "He has never let me down.
"I think goalkeepers are always going to be in that situation, forwards are to a similar extent, when they have not scored for a while.
"A goalkeeper who lets a goal in that perhaps should have been saved are in the firing line when it comes to criticism."
England will take on Montenegro and Poland at Wembley in their last two qualifiers this month, with avoiding defeat the absolute minimum requirement.
Even within that cauldron of pressure, Hodgson does not feel replacing Hart with the in-form Celtic man Fraser Forster will be the right solution.
"I am sure Joe is not happy to have let in goals he feels he could have saved", Hodgson added. "It will take a lot more than a bad game for any player before I start suggesting he should be replaced.
"I do realise it is not a good moment for Joe. He is a proud man and a very good goalkeeper. I still believe in Joe Hart, I believe he is the right man for the job and I don't believe he will let England down."
England squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster, Joe Hart, John Ruddy
Defenders: Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Phil Jagielka, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Kyle Walker
Midfielders: Ross Barkley, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Andros Townsend, Jack Wilshere
Forwards: Jermain Defoe, Rickie Lambert, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Daniel Welbeck
What are the tipsters over at Inside Bet tipping? Check out the latest tips, free bets and previews.
