Joe Hart and his return to form: An analysis

Joe Hart

England manager Roy Hodgson will be putting the final touches to his England squad for this summer’s World Cup over the next few weeks, with a number of positions still up for grabs. However one position that certainly looks to be secure is that of England’s number one goalkeeper – Joe Hart.

Emerging from the barren years that followed David Seaman’s retirement, the Manchester City goalkeeper looks secure in the number one spot for both club and country and appears to have put his early season troubles firmly behind him in recent weeks, as the season approaches its climax.

Hart has kept clean sheets in 37% of his games for the third placed Citizens this season, higher than the likes of Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet – whose side sit just a point behind City – and David De Gea, of fierce rivals Manchester United.

The England keeper has also conceded just over one goal per game this season, again, better than De Gea and Mignolet. This came despite a poor start to the season, which saw his place for both club and country under threat after a series of costly errors.

Premier League Goalkeepers Since 21/12/13 By Squawka Performance Score

Costel Pantilimon came into the Manchester City side in place of Hart, who had seen all three of his defensive errors in the early part of the season punished clinically by opposing forwards, but the former Shrewsbury man has since reclaimed his place.

Resurgent since returning to the side, Hart is fourth amongst Premier League goalkeepers since being restored to the side, with two of those ahead of him having played a game more, and has made just one defensive error in his 900 minutes of football.

Joe Hart Stats Since Returning To The Side (21/12/13)

He has kept four clean sheets in the ten games since his return, and has seen his average goals conceded per game drop from 1.22 before his spell on the sidelines, to just 0.9.

This Save vs Liverpool Is One Of 21 Made Since His Return To The City Side

Hart’s saves made per goal conceded has also increased in the wake of his rest and is now head and shoulders above his early season form, going from making just one save for every goal conceded prior to being dropped, to 2.63 saves per goal conceded in the months since.

Joe Hart Saves Since Returning To The Side

Per game, the England stopper has averaged 2.1 saves per 90 minutes across his ten appearances. This is up from an average of just 1.22 saves per game before his mid season spell on the bench.

Hart has also performed on the highest stage of European football: the Champions League. The Manchester City custodian has been by far the busiest of the English clubs’ goalkeepers in the competition so far, thanks in no small part to a tough draw and a porous defence, but has kept his side in a number of games – including the scalp of beating Bayern Munich in Munich – with saves at crucial times.

He has averaged 2.5 saves per 90 minutes during his six Champions League appearances so far, more than any of De Gea, Wojciech Szczesny or Petr Cech, and has also averaged 2.5 catches and one punch in the same time period – also more than any other Premier League keeper in the competition.

The City keeper’s form has picked up at just the right time for club and country, vindicating the faith of Manuel Pellegrini and Roy Hodgson and providing encouraging signs ahead of the World Cup this summer.