City No 1 is under scrutiny going into two vital internationals for the Three Lions.
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England midfield player James Milner has given his full backing to under-pressure goalkeeper Joe Hart ahead of the Three Lions’ crucial Fifa World Cup qualifying double header with Moldova and Ukraine, according to reports on Sky Sports.
The Manchester City shot-stopper has come in for some criticism of late regarding his displays between the posts for both club and country.
Hart, 26, was at fault in allowing James Morrison’s long-range shot to beat him to give Scotland a shock lead at Wembley Stadium in a friendly last month.
Meanwhile, the ‘keeper was also then held accountable by new City head coach Manuel Pellegrini for letting in Fraser Campbell’s surprise winner in Cardiff City’s stunning recent 3-2 win over the mega-rich Premier League side in the Premier League.
However, Milner has now come out to offer his full support to his club-mate, claiming that Hart is still a world-class keeper and that both City and England should be glad to have a No 1 of his quality to call upon.
“He’s a victim of his own success,” said Milner ahead of England’s vital qualifier with Moldova in the capital on Friday night.
“People said he had a poorer season last season but he won the Golden Glove.
“When we played Borussia Dortmund last year (in the Champions League) it was one of the best goalkeeping performances I’ve ever seen. We could have lost that game 8-1 very easily and that’s not exaggerating.
“I am blessed as a midfielder because if I miscontrol the ball I’ve got four defenders and a goalkeeper to save me.
“If Joe makes a mistake it’s going to end up in the back of the net. That’s the unfortunate thing about being a goalkeeper.
“But he is a top keeper and we’re lucky to have him.”
Hart has made 33 appearances in goal for his country since making his England debut in a friendly with Trinidad and Tobago in June 2008, playing in his first major tournament with the Three Lions at Euro 2012 last summer.