Hart recalled as Hodgson rings England changes for Germany

18 November 2013 15:16

Under-fire goalkeeper Joe Hart was recalled by Roy Hodgson when the England manager announced his team to play fellow 2014 World Cup qualifiers Germany in an international friendly at Wembley on Tuesday.

Hart has lost his place at Premier League big-spenders Manchester City to Costel Pantilimon following several high-profile errors this term.

He didn't feature in the team beaten 2-0 by Chile in a friendly at Wembley on Friday, with Hodgson opting to give Celtic's Fraser Forster an England debut instead.

However, Hodgson has always insisted Hart remains his first-choice keeper and, after taking the unusual step of naming his side more than 24 hours in advance, the manager told a news conference on Monday: "I wouldn't dream of putting a player in or dropping him based on one game.

"I can't deny -- and Joe wouldn't deny -- that this is another chance for him to show that he is a top-class goalkeeper because he will be playing against a very good team."

Hodgson made nine changes to the side that kicked-off against Chile, with Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney the two survivors.

There were concerns over the fitness of Daniel Sturridge, brought back to partner Rooney, after he left training on Monday in the company of England physiotherapist Steve Kemp.

But Hodgson insisted the Liverpool forward was fit, saying: "He's fine. Last week he obviously couldn't take much part in training but his injury, which he brought with him from his club, is improving all the time.

"The reason he came off after two sectors -- if you like -- of the game we were playing this morning, was to give Rickie Lambert a chance also playing at centre-forward because there's a good chance, and we want to see him play tomorrow (Tuesday) night as well as Daniel Sturridge."

England skipper Steven Gerrard, set to equal the 108 international appearance of Bobby Moore, England's captain when they beat the then West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley, returns to midfield after missing the Chile match through injury.

Hodgson has also recalled fit-again Tottenham Hotspur defender Kyle Walker.

England team to play Germany

Joe Hart; Kyle Walker, Chris Smalling, Phil Jagielka, Ashley Cole; Adam Lallana, Steven Gerrard (capt), Tom Cleverley, Andros Townsend; Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge

Source: AFP