HART ON THE LINE
Joe Hart’s World Cup place in jeopardy as West Ham yet to decide on making a permanent move for troubled goalkeeper
Stopper produced another cock-up against Stoke in front of watching England boss Gareth Southgate
JOE HART has a month to save his World Cup and Premier League dreams.
West Ham’s on-loan keeper endured another dramatic night in a turbulent season with a cock-up against Stoke in front of watching England boss Gareth Southgate.
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Hammers chief David Moyes has not yet decided whether to keep faith with Hart or bring in Adrian for Sunday’s trip to Arsenal.
But time is running out for the former England No 1 to prove he can still be a top-level player.
Hart, who turns 31 tomorrow, is on a season-long loan deal from Manchester City.
And West Ham insiders have admitted no decision on Hart will be made until after the season.
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It does look increasingly likely, though, that Hart’s £120,000-a-week deal will not be renewed and he will be sent back to the Premier League champions — where he has no future under boss Pep Guardiola.
Hart’s roller-coaster season has been summed up in the last month, with Monday night’s blunder in a 1-1 draw preceded by three stunning saves against Chelsea but also errors in a 3-0 London Stadium defeat to Burnley last month.
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Being ditched by Moyes this weekend would be a massive blow for the stopper after he forced his way back into the first team having been axed last November.
Everton’s Jordan Pickford is Southgate’s current No 1 but there is a reserve place to fight for between Hart, Stoke’s Jack Butland and Burnley’s Nick Pope.
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Hart did not play in the Three Lions’ friendlies against Holland and Italy last month.
And he must now be sweating on whether he will England’s 23-man squad for the World Cup.
One factor in his favour is that Southgate thinks he has the experience to overcome his alarming dips in form and he is a good character to have in the dressing room as part of the squad.
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Stoke’s former England striker Peter Crouch cashed in on Hart’s error with the opener on Monday but thinks he is still ahead of team-mate Butland.
Crouchy said: “I’ve worked with Joe as well, I know how good he is. Jack’s not far off being No 1 in my opinion and I think when he gets there, he’ll stay there.
“He’s improving. He’s ready-made and he’s got youth on his side. There will come a time when Joe steps aside — and I think he is still a top goalkeeper — but when he does, Jack will be ready.”
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