Midweek Sport

PASSION AND COMMITMENT

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shoot-outs involved in.

“I don’t know about saving them, but the practice has made me better at taking them!”

Hart became England No.1 straight after the World Cup disaster in South Africa two years ago.

He also ousted Shay Given at City, even though the

we

could

be Irishman was on top of his game at the time.

It’s a whole new ball game in the England camp now that Capello has gone, but Hart refused to slag off the clueless Italian.

He said: “You knew where you stood. You knew how you had to behave – and he played me.

“But

I have more

of a relationsh­ip with the management team now.”

Pearce was the Man City boss who bought Hart from Shrewsbury – before the Blues became mega-rich.

“Joe was an outstandin­g young talent and we didn’t have much money at City at that time, so he fitted the bill at £600,000,” said Pearce.

“I couldn’t spend more than that on a back-up goalkeeper – that’s where we were at.

“He has developed superbly and is a big influence around the group with his personalit­y.

“He is infectious and the other players like him.

“He is getting better and better. He’s not the finished article yet, but he has a lot of experience and is a credit to himself and his family.”

 ??  ?? OUTSTANDIN­G: Hart
OUTSTANDIN­G: Hart

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