#2 Joe Hart
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This is a huge season for the 29-year-old ‘keeper. His ability is being questioned thanks to a number of high profile mistakes during the 2016 Euro’s and his loan move to Italian club, Torino shows he is clearly out of favour at Manchester City and Pep Guardiola. The arrival of former Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo would almost certainly have meant that Hart would be 3rd choice and limited to a handful of Cup games.
Sam Allardyce, therefore, has a perfect opportunity to put a metaphorical arm around the struggling ‘keeper and ensure he is mentally ready to take on the role of England’s Number 1. It will be a balancing act for the England manager and a true test of his man-management skills. He first needs to make sure that Hart feels comfortable enough with his place that he isn’t under pressure. At the same time, he needs to make sure that the ‘keeper knows this doesn’t make him un-droppable.
The next problem for the England Manager is whether Hart is getting regular game time. With his deadline day loan move to Italy, it should mean that he plays regularly. If he is able to demonstrate that he has put those high profile risks behind him, Allardyce should retain him as England’s number 1. How Sam handles this will be interesting to watch as the season progresses.
