Southgate’s big choice in goal for France clash

Assessing the Griffiths free-kicks, Southgate had a firm initial opinion.

“For me, two moments of quality, but we will look at it,” he said.

Hart is attempting to channel his energy, passion and enthusiasm in a more productive way, conceding he has perhaps been too pumped up in the past.

Southgate has been impressed by that change in preparation and would not be drawn into a question about Hart’s big-game temperament.

The England manager did, though, offer more when it came to his plans for tomorrow’s friendly against France in Paris, where Fraser Forster, Tom Heaton and Jack Butland are pushing to start.

“I’m not sure yet,” Southgate said when asked if he would have a look at Butland after a long injury lay-off.

“Obviously he’s only had four or five games back, so we’re going to have a think about exactly how we want to approach that game.

“We will make some changes, for sure.”

Pressed on whether those alterations at the Stade de France would include a change in goalkeepers, Southgate added: “Our intention was always to give somebody else a game.

“So whatever it looks like, I’ll have to ride that. But you’ve got to keep making decisions for the right reasons.”

England’s strength in depth in the goalkeeping department is certainly improving and Southgate knows England can ill-afford to go into next summer’s World Cup without options across the squad.

“Who knows when we get to next summer, who’s fit and who’s available,” he said. “I’ve seen us and been involved in tournaments where the key player or the critical player has gone not fully fit.

“We can’t just be a team that just relies on one or two players. We’ve had a couple of players that aren’t with us for this camp.

“It’s the first time we’ve been able to pick Harry (Kane). We missed Dele (Alli) for a few games.

“So we’ve got to be a squad, have strength in depth, and we’ve got to have competition for places. That will push the players to perform at a higher level.”