Joe Hart ‘gutted’ to miss out on World Cup squad as keeper reveals all about his England snub
Manchester City stopper says pain of missing out on Russia 2018 is hard to take after two years struggling to nail down his place in club football
JOE HART has revealed his heartache at being axed by England for the World Cup.
Hart has been left distraught after Gareth Southgate cut him from his squad for Russia 2018 despite him playing throughout the qualifying campaign.
The 31-year-old is now battling to save his international career at a time when he needs to find a new club after a loan spell at West Ham ended in disappointment.
And the Manchester City keeper admits the Three Lions snub on the top of two years of problems at club level is a bitter pill to swallow.
Hart wrote on Instagram: “Not going to lie, I’m gutted.
“After 2 years of trying to make the most of a really tough situation, this is hard to take.
“I’m proud to have put in the graft and play every minute to qualify with the team and have a really important input in that outcome.
“I know what I bring to the team, but it is what it is.
HELL-TRENT ON SUCCESS Alexander-Arnold’s rise from pretending to be Stevie G to the World Cup
“Good luck to the team out there, the players know that even though I won’t be there, I will have my England shirt on as a fan this time and supporting all the way.
“No fear, go and smash it.”
England World Cup squad 2018
Goalkeepers
Jordan Pickford: Age 24, Caps 2
Jack Butland: Age 25, Caps 7
Nick Pope: Age 26, Caps 0
Defenders
Kyle Walker: Age 24, Caps 34
Trent Alexander-Arnold: Age 19, Caps 0
Kieran Tripper: Age 27, Caps 5
John Stones: Age 23, Caps 24
Harry Maguire: Age 25, Caps 4
Phil Jones: Age 26, Caps 24
Gary Cahill: Age 32, Caps 58
Danny Rose: Age 27, Caps 16
Ashley Young: Age 32, Caps 33
Midfielders
Eric Dier: Age 24, Caps 25
Dele Alli: Age 22, Caps 23
Jordan Henderson: Age 27, Caps 38
Jesse Lingard: Age 25, Caps 10
Ruben Loftus-Cheek: Age 22, Caps 2
Fabian Delph: Age 28, Caps 9
Raheem Sterling: Age 23, Caps 37
Forwards
Harry Kane: Age 23, Caps 23
Jamie Vardy: Age 31, Caps 21
Marcus Rashford: Age 20, Caps 17
Danny Welbeck: Age 27, Caps 37
Stand-by
Tom Heaton
James Tarkowski
Adam Lallana
Jake Livermore
Lewis Cook
Hart had hoped his struggles to remain as first choice at West Ham would not be enough to leave him out of the England set-up completely.
But despite being ever-present in qualifying, his experience counted for little as Southgate stuck to his philosophy of only picking players in form and playing.
It means England will go into the World Cup with three keepers who between them have made just nine appearances at international level.
Jordan Pickford and Jack Butland are fighting it out to be the man selected for the World Cup opener against Tunisia, with Burnley’s Nick Pope selected despite being uncapped.