LION HART

Cork: Southgate cannot ignore Joe if he keeps up this form

JOE HART has been backed to silence his critics by reclaiming his England place.

Hart marked his Burnley Premier League debut with an impressive clean sheet in Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Southampton (right).

Clarets team-mate Jack Cork reckons 31-year-old Hart – dumped by Gareth Southgate for the World Cup – can revive his international career at Turf Moor.

Midfielder Cork said: “Joe was quiet first half but second half we needed him a lot and it was a great performance from him.

“He is a good person to have around the dressing room.

“Joe has got great experience of the Premier League and Europe and at international level.

“He is a good personality, a good guy and fits in well with the lads. It seems like a good match for him and the club and hopefully he can impress and keep improving his career.

“A lot of the signings we do here have a point to prove and that is what keeps the squad hungry, keen to impress and prove people wrong. That is what drives the club.

“You have seen it with Tom Heaton and Nick Pope. If you keep clean sheets like we do it is hard to ignore the goalkeeper when he’s English.

“If Joe does that and plays well he should get back in the squad.”

Burnley have already played four competitive games this season due to their Europa League campaign.

They host Turkish outfit Istanbul Basaksehir in the return leg of their third-round qualifier on Thursday, and Cork insists Europe is a welcome distraction for Sean Dyche’s men.

The former Saints and Swansea ace said: “We are really excited, it’s a competition we worked really hard to get into, so we want to progress in it and excel.

“A lot of us have not played in Europe, so for us it is a massive achievement – one to be proud of.

“We don’t see it as a hindrance, it is another competition, something we have always wanted to do. We didn’t think we’d get the chance, but we’re very glad we’re in it now.”