Joe Hart kept five clean sheets in his eleven appearances for England this year

Joe Hart is only 25 but it is hard to remember a time when he wasn’t standing between the posts for England.

He has started 24 of the last 27 internationals and his eleven appearances in 2012, which included five clean sheets, have boosted his caps total to 27.

Hart got down well to deny Everton’s Fellaini at the end of the Wembley friendly with Belgium in June, ensuring that England went to Euro 2012 on the back of a win.

He helped to preserve England’s slender advantage against Ukraine in the last Group D fixture of the Finals by getting a strong hand to Konoplyanka’s powerful dipping strike, again near the end.

He made an impressive double-save from Manchester City club-mate Balotelli in the quarter final with Italy but couldn’t become the shootout hero in Kiev.

In the new season he started five consecutive internationals, making a brave block to thwart Pisczek in the 1-1 draw in Poland before ending the year by conceding a goal in a million in the Sweden friendly.

He made a headed clearance that Ibrahimovic volleyed spectacularly back into the net, making Joe the only England ‘keeper in history to be beaten four times by the same player in one match.

But he was consistently brilliant for Manchester City in the Premier League, being an ever-present as they lifted the title, and in the Champions League.

He has emerged as the stand-out ‘keeper of his generation and takes inspiration from England greats Banks and Shilton: “I’ve got a long way to go to get anywhere near those two goalkeepers," he said. "I’m on my journey as a goalkeeper”.

Joe Hart's Opta Stats

- Joe Hart kept out 88% of the shots he faced at Euro 2012, only Iker Casillas (94%) had a better record.
- The Manchester City stopper also made a competition-high 22 saves in Poland & Ukraine.
- Hart was the only England player to play over 1000 international minutes in the year 2012 (1020).
- Hart kept five clean sheets in eleven appearances for England in 2012 and conceded 12 goals.
- Despite Manchester City’s disappointing performance in Europe this term, Hart made 33 saves in the Champions League group stages; only FC Nordsjælland’s Jesper Hansen (34) made more.

Joe Hart, along with Ashley Cole, Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Danny Welbeck are all in the hunt this year and it's up to you which star will claim the 2012 England Player of the Year award at the inaugural FA England Awards in association with Vauxhall at St. George's Park on Sunday 3 February 2013.

Place your vote in the poll below before the closing date of 13 January 2013. You can also vote for the England Men's Under-21s and Women's Senior Players of the Year, too.