Contenders: Hart
Friday, 09 January, 2009
Joe Hart built on his form with the England Under-21s by making his Senior bow against Trinidad.
During 2008, Fabio Capello awarded caps to 35 players in ten games as England won eight, drew one and lost one. Today we look at Joe Hart who made his England debut in June.
Age 21
Date of Birth 19.04.87
Caps in 2008 1
Career Caps 1
Manchester City
Having established himself as the first choice between the sticks at Manchester City, Joe Hart built on his consistent form for the England Under-21s by earning his first cap for the senior team.
Just two years after holding the number one shirt at Shrewsbury Town in League Two, Hart is now competing in the Premier League and was part of his first England senior squad under Fabio Capello in May.
Hart was with the squad for a full ten days as they played USA at Wembley before travelling to Trinidad to play their final game of the season.
Hart made his debut at half-time, replacing David James at the interval, and maintained the clean sheet as England ran in 3-0 winners with two goals from Jermain Defoe and a further strike from Gareth Barry.
It was Joe's debut for the England senior team after 12 appearances at Under-21 level and clearly he must be one of England's youngest 'keepers.
He was 21 years 43 days old when he donned the gloves in Port of Spain at the weekend, which makes him almost a month younger than the legendary Peter Shilton when he made his senior debut.
Shilts' fantastic England career started with a Wembley friendly against East Germany in 1970, lasted for 20 years and left him with a record 125 caps.
But Joe Hart is only seventh in the all-time list of youngest England goalkeepers. The youngest ever is Billy Moon of Old Westminsters, who won his first cap against Wales in 1888 when he was 19 years 222 days old. England won 5-1 at Crewe.
Quotes
"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."
Joe Hart
