My head says Hart should be England's World Cup No.1

By James Nursey

Published 08:01 11/03/10

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When football discussions inevitably turn to England's prospects at the World Cup, I am always sadly pessimistic.

Yes, I know Wayne Rooney is playing out of his skin and is finally fulfilling his huge potential, but we still don't have an established outstanding candidate to play in goal.

Italy and Spain won the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008 respectively with Gianluigi Buffon and Iker Casillas in goal.

Both shot-stoppers are the undisputed No.1 for their country for good reason - they are reliable and flipping brilliant.

Yet England manager Fabio Capello has no such luxuries.

And I imagine most of the nation would be split into three camps on whether to select David James, Rob Green or Joe Hart from the last England squad.

Capello appears to be leaning towards West Ham's Green, 30, after playing him for the entire 90 minutes in last week's friendly against Egypt.

But, despite being a Norwich fan where Green started his career, I have never thought him good enough to be England's No.1.

While Portsmouth shot-stopper James, 39, has had his chance and failed to keep the jersey as far as I am concerned after 49 international appearances.

But the displays of Hart - on loan from Man City - in goal for promoted Birmingham have generally been absolutely outstanding this season.

I have seen Hart produce a string of dazzling performances this term - including when he almost single-handedly earned City a 0-0 draw on Boxing Day at home to Chelsea.

His shot-stopping is superb and he appears to have improved enormously this season under Brum's goalkeeping coach Andy Watson.

At the start of the campaign I thought Hart looked vulnerable on crosses.

But as his confidence has grown, so he has become more assured under the high ball as he has helped City become the top-flight's surprise package.

I know Birmingham's defenders like Roger Johnson and Scott Dann really rate him. They are both English and want Hart to play in goal this summer.

And Brum's experienced Northern Ireland keeper Maik Taylor has not grumbled about losing his place to rookie Hart.

I would have liked to see Hart play against Egypt to assess his ability in the international spotlight, as he has just one England cap, dating from Trinidad & Tobago away in June 2008.

Sadly Hart didn't get a chance at Wembley but he would still get my vote to be England's No.1 this summer in South Africa.

With or without him, realistically I fear we probably still won't win the World Cup for various reasons - some connected with John Terry!

But at just 22-years-old, at least Hart could start to blossom into an established international keeper in the class of Buffon or Casillas.

And we all know what they have achieved.