Shropshire Star

Chris Sutton: Ex-Shrewsbury Town man Joe Hart should not go to World Cup

Former Shrewsbury Town shot-stopper Joe Hart should not be included in England’s World Cup squad, says once-capped Chris Sutton.

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Ex-striker Sutton, who won the Premier League with Blackburn, feels there are ‘three better goalkeepers’ than Hart – who fumbled to allow Peter Crouch to score in West Ham’s 1-1 draw with Stoke on Monday night.

“You cannot take someone because they are a nice bloke and good in the dressing room,” he said.

“If England get two injuries to goalkeepers you need your third keeper to be strong. That is how it should be judged.

“After that, how can Southgate go away and feel he can trust Joe Hart in an England jersey again?”

Hart went through the youth ranks at Shrewsbury and made a big impression in the first team, joining Manchester City in 2006. He has 75 England caps.

Stoke’s Jack Butland, Everton’s Jordan Pickford and Burnley’s Nick Pope are the other keepers looking to be on the plane to Russia.