HART OF STEEL
City snub hurt, but my pal Joe is fighting back at Burnley... and he’ll play for England again
EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR believes former Manchester City team-mate Joe Hart’s determination will thrust the Burnley goalkeeper back into the England squad.
Adebayor insists the only reason Sean Dyche’s side are still in the Europa League at the expense of the striker’s latest club Istanbul Basaksehir is because of Hart’s reflexes.
He made some impressive saves against the Turks earlier in the month and, as Hart prepares to face Fulham at Craven Cottage today, Adebayor said: “Joe is still a world-class goalkeeper. There is no doubt about that.
“He is a goalkeeper I got to know well during my time at Manchester City, along with Shay Given – both of them great competitors.
“I was very surprised how it went for him [being left out of the City side].
“But when you get a new manager [Pep Guardiola] in at such a big club like Manchester City, it is always difficult to keep your position.
“I’ve known Joe for probably 10 years and he is a good guy with a very strong mentality, so he will bounce back.
“One of the great things about Joe is that, whether he is playing for Manchester City, Burnley or England, he will always give his best.”
Hart was devastated at being overlooked by England boss Gareth Southgate for the World Cup in Russia after featuring in nine of the 10 qualifying games.
This week, Southgate picks his squad for the forthcoming Wembley double-header against Spain and Switzerland and Hart will be hoping regular first-team football at Turf Moor could jog Southgate’s memory.
Adebayor added: “Why can’t he play for England again? He has still got what it takes.
“It only takes him having a great game against a Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea or a Manchester United and people will be talking about him again. In football, you can be a villain today and a hero tomorrow. He can be that hero again. “After everything that has happened to him recently, it’s only a case of him going upwards – and that means once again being one of the best goalkeepers in the world and playing for England. “It took courage going from Manchester City to Torino, then West Ham and deciding to come to Burnley. “That hunger is in his personality. “That’s what made him go abroad in the search for firstteam football. “He has that potential to always be the best goalkeeper he can be and the ability to prove everyone wrong. You can only do that by playing games.”
It was the urge to still command a first-team place, as Adebayor hit his thirties, which has taken the former Togo international to Istanbul.
Now 34, the forward who also played for Arsenal, Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho, Spurs and Crystal Palace, added: “I was in England for 11 years and, for me, it’s great to realise how lucky I was to play in the Premier League.
“To experience this country and culture is just beautiful.
“If I come back, it will be to watch football and visit some old friends.
“I have been here and done it and I don’t feel I have to prove myself to anyone in England.”
Instead, he will leave that to his big friend Joe Hart.