It’s about time Joe Hart had competition and Jordan Pickford is the coming man for the England No1 spot
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IT is Joe Hart’s lucky day.
He gets the gloves tomorrow, starting against Brazil in a prestige friendly at Wembley.
Gareth Southgate is smiling on him.
England’s head coach is turning to him against Tite’s ball-jugglers after Jack Butland busted a finger and returned to Stoke City.
Hart, spending the season on loan at West Ham from Manchester City, cannot afford to make a mistake now.
Jordan Pickford is the coming man, timing his run after an assured, accomplished debut against Germany on Friday night.
Pickford’s work is done in this international window, with Southgate glowing about his performance after making the big call to start him against the world champions.
With eight months to go until England play their first World Cup group game, time is on Pickford’s side.
HAND ON HART England stars Joe Hart and Kieran Trippier hold hands leaving nightclub at 3.30am same night of Germany draw
It took him 90 minutes against Germany to sway Southgate.
Last week England’s head coach, eager to protect Hart’s fragile confidence, claimed he would start in Russia.
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Given a bit more time to think about it, with time to chew over Hart’s performance with his coaching staff over the weekend, he has changed his tune.
It is not quite so clear cut any more.
Hart has the experience, but years of failure with England at international tournament take their toll.
He has been the main man ever since Roy Hodgson made him first choice for England at Euro 2012.
After Euro 2016, especially the goal he conceded against Wales and the double when Iceland knocked England out in Nice, he needed to be rebuilt.
No matter how pumped up Hart, no matter how many times he is seen shouting at defenders when they make mistakes, he never quite convinced.
Pickford, with the exception of failing to spot Leroy Sane’s first half zinger off his left foot on Friday, is showing potential.
He is a kid, no more than that, but he is a kid full of self-belief.
Time will tell whether he can deliver.
Crucially, it is about time Hart had some competition for that coveted England jersey...
Life has been far too easy for Hart down the years.
He is not in the top bracket of keepers, at least a tier and probably more away from Germany’s Manuel Neuer, Spain’s David de Gea and France’s Hugo Lloris.
Even so, he has never had any serious competition with England.
in the short time Pickford has been training with the national team he has started to push Hart for his position.
Hart, simply because of age and experience, will take some shifting over the next few months.
Pickford, this super-confident kid, is convinced his luck is in.
