Hart's Blues loan deal agreed

Former Shrewsbury Town goalkeeper Joe Hart will spend next season on loan at Birmingham.

England under 21 ace Hart has been seeking first-team football since being squeezed out by the arrival of Shay Given in January.

City yesterday snapped up Stuart Taylor from Aston Villa, providing the cover they needed to let Hart go.

The 22-year-old, who is with the Under-21s at the European Championships, has one senior cap and wants to play regularly in the build-up to the World Cup, having lost his place in Fabio Capello's squad since dropping down the City pecking order.

Hughes said: "I have always said that Joe is a really good young keeper, and his talent was obvious to (goalkeeping coach) Kevin Hitchcock and I from the outset.

"His contribution to the team prior to Shay Given's arrival was fantastic, but by loaning him to Birmingham, he will add invaluable experience.

Hart has admitted that it has been frustrating to sit on the sidelines.

"It has been tough. It's frustrating, but there's only one person can play in goal and Shay's doing that at the moment," he said. "I've had to deal with it the best I can. It's not been ideal, but it's not the end of the world."