Birmingham City FC

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• Manager:Alex McLeish

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McLeish keen for Hart call-up

15 Feb 2010 - 08:08:38

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Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish has again backed loan goalkeeper Joe Hart to secure a place in the England squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa.

The 22-year-old has impressed since moving to St Andrew's from Manchester City at the start of the season and McLeish is confident that Hart could handle the pressure of selection by Fabio Capello.

The Scotsman commented: "I met Fabio at Wembley at an LMA dinner and he expressed his delight at Joe. He is pleased he is playing games every week.

"I'm not picking Fabio's team, but I think Joe has earned the right to go to the World Cup.

"He has got to the stage now where I am sure Fabio will have his name ticked for the journey to South Africa.

"But it would be a massive step to throw a young keeper into playing in a World Cup who has not been capped before.

"I think Joe could handle it but it would be better to be fed into the system before you embark on a World Cup finals.

"If he was to make one error in the World Cup finals, it is there for the whole world to see and you are scrutinised and the media are relentless in their persecution of people who make a mistake at that level.

"He should be eased in, he needs to get games. I would think Capello would rely on experience in South Africa in terms of who plays."