'I'm coming home!' - England star Joe Hart pays tribute to Shrewsbury ahead of FA Cup clash

Joe Hart returns to Shrewsbury Town for the first time in a competitive game today, admitting: "I'm coming home."

England goalkeeper Hart will be in the West Ham side taking on Town in an FA Cup third-round tie in front of the BBC cameras.

Shrewsbury-born Hart made his breakthrough at Town before going on to join Manchester City in a deal that eventually netted the club £1.5m.

And ahead of the Montgomery Waters Meadow clash, Hart posted an Instagram video to thank those who helped his development.

"I'm excited," said Hart. "It's the town I grew up in, the town I went to school in and the town all my friends and family are from. It's where I had my first opportunity in football.

"Before the rivalry starts for the 90 minutes, I want to say how grateful I am to the town and I'm really looking forward to coming home.

"I've been really lucky to travel the world with football and do some things I never dreamed of doing and I know I wouldn't have been able to do them without the support of Shrewsbury Town.

"I'm looking forward to seeing you and - win, lose or draw - there will be lots of love coming from me."

• Join ShropshireStar.com for the exciting build up today before our team bring you all the action from the FA Cup clash. Then read all the analysis from the historic occasion in Monday's Shropshire Star.