Pickford England’s future No.1

We look at three men who could replace Hart

England manager Gareth Southgate dropped goalkeeper Joe Hart for Tuesday’s friendly with France, instead looking to give Tom Heaton and Jack Butland game time. The gaffer assured fans it was always his plan to rotate the squad, but Hart’s future looks, at best, uncertain.

The 30-year-old shot-stopper returns from a season-long loan at Torino to find he has fallen way down the pecking order at Man City, and the backroom staff at the Etihad have made no secret of the fact they see no future for the England goalie at the club. To make matters worse, there hasn’t been many big clubs showing an interest in taking him either.

It’s a curious tale, but if Hart doesn’t secure his future at a major club this summer, probably in the English Premier League, its likely Southgate will not be slow in dropping him. We look at the options open to England for a long-term replacement between the sticks.

Tom Heaton enjoyed a memorable season for Burnley, forcing his way towards the front of the queue, ahead of more established internationalists like Fraser Forster. The Southampton ace played in the final of the EFL Cup this year, but blew hot and cold for much of the campaign, leaving the door open for Heaton’s consistency to shine. 6ft 1inch Chester-born Heaton certainly deserves his call up, but at 31 he’s slightly older than Joe Hart. A great age for a keeper, but not the man to keep goal for years to come.