Could losing his West Ham starting spot cost Hart his England place?
Joe Hart went on loan to West Ham this summer with the aim of rebuilding a tarnished reputation. However, his season has not gone to plan. The goalkeeper has conceded 30 goals in his first 14 league games for the Hammers. In addition, the man who brought him in to the club was sacked three games ago.
In David Moyes’ first game in charge, Hart conceded four goals to a struggling Everton side. His second game in charge came against Manchester City, loan rules meaning that the 30-year-old could not be included in the squad. Deputy Adrian put in a valiant performance against Pep’s men and rightly kept his place for their match against champions Chelsea on Saturday. The Spaniard kept a clean sheet in a one-goal win - the first time the Hammers faithful had tasted victory in eleven games.
Things now look ominous for Hart at West Ham. He's lost his number one position at a team that still resides in the relegation zone, so how can he expect to be starting for England? One bookmaker lengthened the two-time Premier League winner’s odds from 1/8 to 1/2, implying his probability of making the squad has gone from 88.9% to 66.7%. Oddschecker users aren’t optimistic about Hart’s current predicament either; he is not even in the top three most backed Goalkeepers through site in the last month.
Jordan Pickford is now the man the bookies believe to be England’s number one at best priced 1/4. The 23-year-old kept a clean sheet against Germany on his Three Lions debut last month and has conceded just one goal in his last three games. You can expect that trend to continue under new boss Sam Allardyce, which will only further his case for a starting berth in the summer.
Another option in net is Jack Butland, however the fact Stoke are leaking goals left, right and centre is doing him no favours. Butland his available at a top price 1/3 to make the plane. Fraser Forster is fourth in line according to the odds at 3/1 whilst Ben Foster and Nick Pope at 25/1 are the only other two that can hold a flicker of hope.
Oddschecker spokesman, Callum Wilson: "Dropping from Manchester City’s first choice between the sticks to West Ham’s second choice is an ominous fall from grace from the former England stalwart goalkeeper, and punters are backing Pickford and Butland to make the plane over the 30-year-old."
