After spending the season, on loan at West Ham United, Joe Hart was probably hoping that the deal would enhance his chances of being in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t turned out to be the case.
Hart, who has shared goalkeeping duties with Adrian this season, has, according to the news vehicle the Sun been told, by Gareth Southgate, he will not be one of the three goalkeepers selected.
The insinuation given is that Hart was told the news, in a face-to-face conversation with Southgate.
It seems that Southgate has decided against adding an experienced keeper to his squad and is instead set to call up Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jack Butland (Stoke City) and Nick Pope (Burnley).
Understandably, Hart is said to be gutted by the decision as it effectively brings to an end an international career that has seen him win 75 caps and also play in three major tournaments.
Our referenced source, in true tabloid style, even manages to print some quotes attributed to a friend of Hart’s which read,
“He cannot believe he is not even going to be in the 23.
“The news was a real shock for Joe.”
But is Joe’s non-selection really a surprise?
Here at Vital West Ham, we’d suggest not.
Hart’s form, this season, has seen him slip from prominence and only named as a substitute, on numerous occasions, by David Moyes brings the old adage of being ‘out of sight, out of mind’ to the forefront.
Indeed, you could even ask the question as to whether the loan move to West Ham United was a success considering the proportion of his weekly salary the Hammers were paying.
At 31-years-of-age, for a keeper, Hart should be in his prime, but he couldn’t do enough to hang on to the first-team jersey, often the victim of costly individual errors.
But, although this summer will be a hard cross to bear, Hart is young enough to make a comeback, it just remains to be seen that with his loan-deal over at West Ham where he sets up camp next.
