Malta goalkeeper Andrew Hogg admits he feels sorry for England No1 Joe Hart after Manchester City exit
Kingston-born stopper discusses his opposite number before taking on his homeland at Wembley in World Cup qualifier
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MALTA goalkeeper Andrew Hogg has revealed he feels sorry for Joe Hart ahead of facing him and England on Saturday.
With the Three Lions expected to lay siege to the visiting goal at Wembley, few would argue with the Maltese No1 feeling sorry for himself.
But in fact, the shotstopper’s sympathies only lie with his opposite number.
Hogg, who was born in England, has watched from afar as Hart was dumped out of the Manchester City side and loaned to Torino by Citizens boss Pep Guardiola over his footwork technique.
Hogg, who plays for Maltese side Hibernians, said ahead of the weekend's World Cup qualifier: "I've followed Joe's situation quite a lot and, yes, I feel sorry for him.
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"Goalkeeping is changing, for sure - I've seen the same thing playing in Greece and even in Malta.
"Even though the quality is not the same they are all looking for goalkeepers who can pass.”
He continued: "I understand the reasoning of the Manchester City coach, it makes sense, but at the end of the day it happens and you have to deal with whatever football or life throws at you.
"Football is a game of confidence and you will go in and out of form, but the best fight back and stay at the top. Joe got himself to Torino and Serie A is a great league."
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Hogg was born in Kingston-upon-Thames in Greater London.
And he cannot wait to represent his adopted nation against his country of birth at the national stadium.
Hogg added: "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity but you can't lose your mind about the glitziness of the stadium or the situation.
"You focus on your job and be a professional. We've played Italy four times in recent qualifying and they never took the mick out of us."