England boss Roy Hodgson keeps faith with Joe Hart

For virtually the first time since he was installed as first choice keeper following the 2010 World Cup, major questions are being asked of former Shrewsbury Town shot-stopper Hart.

The Manchester City man was criticised for his performance in England's win over Scotland earlier this month and was blamed for two of Cardiff's goals in their shock 3-2 win over Manuel Pellegrini's men on Sunday.

Yet Hodgson remains solidly behind Hart.

"I would defend him," said the England manager.

"It would take more than a couple of games before we lost faith in a guy who has been number one over a long period.

"In top teams like Manchester City, goalkeepers don't have a lot to do. Every time they make a mistake it's highlighted.

"I have every faith in Joe Hart. When I took the job I thought I had a top-class goalkeeper and 16 months later feel I still have a top class goalkeeper."

Celtic's Fraser Forster and Norwich's John Ruddy provide the competition for Hart in the squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine.

Everton's Ross Barkley and Andros Townsend of Tottenham have been called up for the first time, while Liverpool's Raheem Sterling has been handed a recall.

Meanwhile, Hodgson insists he has not struck a deal with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger over Jack Wilshere's involvement.

Wenger is still handling Wilshere with care given his dire injury record, and hinted that Hodgson might follow suit and leave Wilshere out of the Wembley encounter with Moldova on September 6 to allow the 21-year-old maximum preparation time for the much tougher assignment in Ukraine four days later.

"I speak to Arsene regularly and he's not said anything to me about it," said Hodgson. "As far as I am concerned, he fully realises that Jack is an integral and important part of the England team. We play four days apart and he expects him to play his part."