GARETH’S CHANGE OF HART

JOE HART is losing his grip on the England No.1 spot.

Gareth Southgate names his squad for the World Cup qualifiers with Malta and Slovakia today and keeper selection is a key issue.

Southgate is giving serious consideration to installing Stoke’s Jack Butland for the clash in Malta tomorrow week.

The England boss watched Butland keep a clean sheet against Arsenal on Saturday and rates him highly, having worked with him with the Under-21s.

There is a growing belief that Butland will become England’s next first-choice keeper and will remain so for next summer’s World Cup finals.

The only issue is when the change from Hart (above) to Butland is made.

Everton’s Jordan Pickford is the other emerging keeper on Southgate’s radar.

Hart’s status as England’s best keeper was called into question during Euro 2016 when mistakes against Iceland and Wales, together with erratic behaviour immediately before games, raised alarm bells.

The Manchester City keeper, who feared for his England place during a season-long loan in Italy last term, has moved to West Ham for regular Premier League action, hoping to re-establish himself as Southgate’s No.1.

But Hart, 30, has had a sticky start to the season and there are worries about form and confidence which Southgate will monitor closely.