Brazil legend Zico believes Joe Hart’s return to form could be crucial for England at next month’s World Cup.
The 27 year-old, who has been capped 39 times at international level, found himself dropped and replaced by Romanian Costel Pantilimon earlier in the season.
After having several games on the sidelines, Hart was recalled to face FC Viktoria Plzeň in the Champions League in November and has ended the campaign in sparkling form.
“It’s good for England that their No1 goalkeeper, Joe Hart, seems to have got over his bad patch that marred parts of his season,” wrote Zico in his column for The Guardian. “I watched some Manchester City games and it was clear Hart’s confidence had been shaken. After what happened to England in the goalkeeping department in South Africa, I am sure neither the players nor the supporters will want scares again.”
Hart is one of three goalkeepers named by England manager Roy Hodgson for the World Cup. The other two are Celtic’s Fraser Forster and West Bromwich Albion’s Ben Foster.
