PLAYING LIKE THIS IS NO EASY FEET

England keeper Hart was axed at Manchester City when Pep Guardiola became manager and was sent out on loan to Torino.

The Spaniard made it clear he wanted a goalkeeper who was comfortable playing with the ball at his feet.

There have also been some negative comments about Hart, 30, from Torino president Urbano Cairo.

But England boss Southgate responded by saying: “I read the comments of the president but frankly that could be related to the fact they know they can’t keep him.

“For me, positive.

“He had to make a quick decision on where he played and he’s seen a different league.

“From our point of view, he’s been asked to play out from the back which I think he’s dealt with very, very well.

“His impact for us has been excellent. And he’s recognised that he’s missed something this season as regards the level of games and the environment he’d been in previously.

“He’s another player who wants to be the best he possibly can and he’s pretty self-critical.

“But he’s got that drive to be a top player. It will be interesting it’s been a real to see what happens for him in the summer.

“He’s been asked to play with his feet this season. They play out in quite tight areas.

“Every coach will want that done slightly differently.

“Some will demand that you play out at every possible moment and I don’t know what he was asked to do at City earlier in the season.

“But I think his decision making, in the way I like a goalkeeper to play, has been good.

“He’s been brave enough to start a move with his feet at the right moments and if he’s not thought a team-mate was in the right position he’s taken a different option.

“In terms of how we’ve asked him to play I don’t see any issue – but every manager will view that a little bit differently.”

Hart is expected to make a permanent £20million move away from City in the summer.

Both Everton and West Ham have been linked with the England No.1 – but reports from Italy suggest he could stay.

The summer is expected to be a goalkeeping merry-go-round and Hart could have an option to go to AC Milan if teen stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma refuses to sign his new deal.

Alternatively, Hart could go to Roma if on-loan Wojciech Szczesny returns to Arsenal or completes a rumoured move to Juventus.