Joe Hart can draw a line under his poor form and cement his World Cup place when England host Germany in Tonight’s international friendly, manager Roy Hodgson said yesterday.
Hart was dropped by his club, Manchester City, last month after his misjudgment led to defeat at Chelsea, the latest in a series of high-profile errors that has left question marks over England’s number one.
Hodgson gave Celtic’s Fraser Forster his senior international debut in the 2-0 friendly defeat by Chile on Friday, but Hart will reclaim the jersey for the visit to Wembley of three-times world champions Germany.
“I am sure (Hart) will respond very well,” Hodgson said at England’s training base. “He is a proud man and very pleased to be playing for England. We have had no cause to doubt him in the (World Cup) qualifiers and also the Euros (2012 European Championship).”
Hodgson confirmed his line-up against Germany would feature the return of left back Ashley Cole and the retention – for his second cap after Friday’s debut – of Southampton winger Adam Lallana.
Steven Gerrard will captain the side, to equal the 108 England caps of former defender and World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore.
Striker Daniel Sturridge has been declared fit and will partner Wayne Rooney up front.
