Gareth Southgate isn’t due to announce his final 23-man England squad for the 2018 World Cup until Wednesday afternoon, but it’s been leaked today that Joe Hart will almost certainly not be part of it.
According to Sky Sports News (among others), Hart has already been informed that he won’t be going to Russia as one of Southgate’s three goalkeeper choices…
BREAKING: @SkySportsNews understands Joe Hart has been told he will not be part of England’s 23-man squad heading to the World Cup in Russia. #SSN pic.twitter.com/WluWj1FwCf
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 15, 2018
England’s former undisputed No.1 has seen his stock (and handling ability) tank dramatically over the past couple of seasons, unfairly becoming something of a punchline while Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland and now Nick Pope gradually usurped him at international level.
Pies are slightly surprised that Hart won’t be going to Russia as an experienced back-up (why did he play in all the warm-up matches?), but the truth of that matter is that we also won’t be losing any sleep over it.
The times, at least as far as England goalkeepers are concerned, are a-changing.