Hart in the right place
Tuesday, 27 May, 2008
Joe Hart says it would make him the happiest man around to get his chance for England.
England v USA
International Friendly
8.05pm, Wednesday 28 May 2008
Wembley Stadium
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart admits he still finds it hard to believe just how far he has come in a short space of time, but says it would make him the 'happiest man around' to get his chance for England.
Just two years after holding the number one shirt at Shrewsbury Town in League Two, Hart now finds himself competing in the Premier League and part of his first England senior squad under Fabio Capello.
It has been a rapid rise for young Hart, and despite an impress season in goal for Manchester City he says he is still surprised to be involved with England.
Speaking exclusively to TheFA.com, Hart said: "It would mean everything, I think you could ask anyone in the country and they would feel the way I do, and the way David James does.
"Everyone just wants to be involved and play for their country, so if I get the opportunity I'll be the happiest man around.
"I didn't think I'd be involved in it full stop two years ago.
"If you had asked me two weeks when I didn't know about the squad, I still would have told you I didn't think I'd be involved.
"It's great coming from Shrewsbury and looking back on how far I've come, but also how far there is still to go.
"I don't know if there is ever an appropriate time, but obviously the whole point in me playing football is to get in a set up like this. That's what I've worked for a season and all my life to be involved in.
"It's good to get the nod to be involved, but I won't take anything for granted. I know for a fact that come the next squad, I'm not definitely in it so I've got to keep working hard and if I do get a chance to show what I can do, hopefully I'll take it."
Hart has been surrounded by a number of familiar faces to make the transition easier, with players such as Tom Huddlestone and David Wheater in the squad and Stuart Pearce involved in the coaching team.
"It's a nice little link to have with the first team, with the lads coming through that I've spent quite a lot of time with and obviously Stuart who is the Under-21s boss and he also brought me to Manchester City. I've got that connection with him so it's helped a lot.
"It's been really good, and obviously it's quite exciting for myself.
"I've got to meet new people which comes with the job I suppose, and with the call ups I've got to meet a few of the players I've played against. Here I'll get to know them on a more personal basis. It's really opening up my eyes.
"Me and Joe (Lewis) have worked together in the Under-21s for a while now, and while he was on loan at Morecambe he came and trained at Man City for a couple of weeks, so I got to know Joe really well and I'm really pleased that he's been called up. It's great for him and it shows that it doesn't matter what league you're in."
Hart also had only positive things to say about Fabio Capello and his coaching team, and he believes that they can take England forward.
"I've worked quite tightly with Franco (Tancredi) the goalkeeping coach, and Ray (Clemence). From what I've seen they are very professional, everything is going to be spot on and it's looking up for England definitely, I think their going to take us forward.
"Capello has only had two short stays with the side in the previous two friendlies, so I think this is big for him.
"It's good to get to know him, for him to get to know us. He knows what we can do football-wise, but it's good for him to get to know us on a personal basis."