Blues have Hart set on Joe move

Manchester City’s promising young keeper Joe Hart has had a memorable season during the 2009/2010 campaign.  Hart saw plenty of action for City last season until Shay Given arrived in January but this season he has been on loan at Birmingham and has really proven himself as a top shot-stopper.

Hart’s performances have led some to suggest he could well be England’s number one in South Africa this summer.  I would agree with this viewpoint personally, as Paul Robinson of Blackurn and West Ham’s Rob Green don’t exactly fill me with confidence to be brutally honest.  Portsmouth’s David James is another contender, but he has seen his season interrupted by injury and he really needs a clean run if he is to reclaim the top spot.

Despite his impressive performances for Birmingham it seems highly unlikely he will be able to usurp  Given at Eastlands next season.  The Irish star has been in exceptional form for a fairly inconsistent City side and it would take something drastic for boss Roberto Mancini to consider dropping the experienced international.  However, Hart still stands a good chance of playing regular Premier League football next season.  Birmingham admitted they made an offer for the player, which Manchester City rejected, but the Blues confirmed City would allow them to take Hart on loan again for the 2010/2011 campaign.

What has happened is that we have actually approached Manchester City with a view to buying him,” Birmingham City vice-chairman Peter Pannu revealed. “But the difficulty is that we have recognised him as a fabulous goalie and Manchester City recognises that as well.

“So they very politely rejected our approach to them to purchase him. They have said they will let him stay here for another season on loan, but he is not for sale.”

This is great news not just for Birmingham but for English fans as well.  It would have been a strange scenario had Hart been number one for the England national side at the World Cup but a number two at a club side the following season.

As a nation England has a fine reputation for producing quality keepers such as Gordon Banks, Nigel Martyn, David Seamen and Peter Shilton but lately it has been a different story.  When the likes of Scot Carson and Chris Kirkland were younger there were high hopes for the pair but Carson suffered from inconsistent form and now finds himself in the Championship with West Brom, while injury problems have blighted Kirkland’s career but he is still highly-regarded.  Without putting too much pressure on Hart I genuinely feel he has the talent and ability to make the England goalkeeper’s spot his own – and another season with Birmingham will certainly help him to progress.

Written by Gareth Freeman, a sports writer who logs about goalkeeping news, Irish racing, Premier League football and the Grand National 2010.