Hart: This is my biggest game for England

Published 22:45 06/10/11 By Martin Lipton in Podgorica

England-Switzerland-Joe-Hart-Euro-2012-qualifier cropped

Joe Hart faces what he admits is the biggest England match of his career on Friday night and is determined to keep on rewriting the record books.

The Manchester City keeper has gone from untrusted third choice at the World Cup finals to unchallenged No 1 in the space of just 16 months.

Hart's presence has seen rivals for the shirt Paul Robinson and Ben Foster withdraw themselves from the England reckoning, while Robert Green has also considered quitting the international scene.

It is a long-term worry for manager Fabio Capello, who has called Scott Carson - whose one appearance under the Italian came in Germany almost three years ago - back into the squad for the decisive Group G clash with Montenegro.

But Hart has justified his status with his displays, setting new marks that he can add to on Friday, while ensuring he gets the chance to play in his first tournament in Poland and Ukraine next summer.

Hart's record of 13 games without being on the losing side is the longest unbeaten sequence for any England player since Euro 96.

The 24-year-old has also kept five clean sheets in England's seven Euro 2012 qualifiers, a record unsurpassed across the tournament, with Switzerland the only team to have scored against him so far.

And, having conceded just six goals in his 13 appearances, he stands as the most reliable and hardest-to-beat keeper since Glenn Hoddle replaced Terry Venables as boss at the end of Euro 96.

If Hart can extend all three of those statistics by keeping the home side out at the Podgorica City Stadium, it will confirm England's place in next summer's finals.

The City man concedes that Friday evening represents the next stage in his international development.

"I've not got a lot of experience of these decisive games, if I'm honest," said Hart. "I've never played a game as key as this one is going to be for my country.

"With the Under-21s, it was key to get into the tournaments, the playoff matches, but this is another level, isn't it?

"It's a big game and we have a lot of experienced players, so we've all played big games before and we'll bring that experience.

"We have to remember that it's 90 minutes of football and we're playing well as a unit, so we have to bring that into the game."

Hart added: "It's all about results, definitely. I think from day one it's about that.

"Obviously it's nice to play well, and we want to play well at Wembley and entertain the fans because they turn out in great numbers.

"But the ultimate goal is to get to the finals and we're doing the right things at the moment to do that. It's the result that matters.

"Bulgaria was especially tough, playing away. It was a difficult start and a difficult stadium and pitch and I thought we played really well - like we have been away from home recently.

"The Wales game was a bit cagey, but we got the win, which was all that mattered. We didn't play great but I don't think anybody is too bothered because we got two wins and two clean sheets."

One Montenegrin player that Hart does know is City team-mate Stefan Savic, whose header completed their 4-0 rout of Blackburn at the weekend.

"Stefan is a good guy, who's come in and done really well," said Hart. "He scored on Saturday and everyone inside the club felt really good for him.

"He's a young lad who's had limited opportunities but he's doing really well.

"Yeah, there's been some banter with him about this game, but it's a big game for both of us.

"We both appreciate that, he's been saying stuff to us and we've been saying stuff to him, but at the same time we respect each other and we're just all looking forward to the game, and potentially what could come out of it for both countries."

***

ENGLAND'S GOALKEEPERS SINCE EURO 96

Player Appearances Goals conceded Minutes per goal

Joe Hart 13 6 173

Paul Robinson 41 22 150

David Seaman 46 28 145

Ben Foster 5 3 135

Nigel Martyn 20 14 100

Robert Green 10 9 86

David James 53 47 81

They also served:

Tim Flowers 3 1 270