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Rio Ferdinand Says Choice To Leave Hart Out Of England Squad Is The 'Right' One

Rio Ferdinand Says Choice To Leave Hart Out Of England Squad Is The 'Right' One

Rio Ferdinand says Hart should make way for new blood.

Jacque Talbot

Jacque Talbot

Rio Ferdinand has said that the decision to leave out Joe Hart from the World Cup squad is the 'right' one.

Joe Hart's career has taken a nose-dive ever since he was cast out on loan to Italian club Torino by then new Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, just before 2016/17 season. Last season, Hart was loaned out again, this time at West Ham for a year. Both spells were mixed at best.

Hart had been England's number one since 2010 but has fallen out of favour in recent years. He has earned over 70 caps with his national side, across four major tournament, so he is not lacking in experience. Fears are that he has too many mistakes in him.

If selected for Russia, it would be the Shrewsbury-born goalkeeper's third World Cup with England.

Hart
Hart

However, recent reports suggest that this won't be the case, and that he will not be joining England's first two choices, Jack Butland and Jordan Pickford, on a plane to Russia.

Hart's selection has been contentious issue, but Ferdinand feels it's the right one.

"In my eyes it's the right decision," Ferdinand told Press Association Sport, via the Daily Mail.

"What is Gareth Southgate going to learn about him? Whereas a young kid...

"I went to the World Cup in '98, didn't play one minute of football, but it was a great learning curve for me.

Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand

"When I went to the next World Cup and played in 2002, I didn't have anything I needed to learn, I wasn't apprehensive about things. I'd already seen what the best methods were. Taking a young kid to go there and experience that I think is a much better way to go."

The TV pundit feels that a youngster, even though they might not make an appearance during the tournament, would gain valuable experience.

A good choice in Ferdinand's eyes, therefore, would be Manchester City's Angus Gunn, 22, has represented England at under-21 level and is currently plying his trade in the Championship on loan at Norwich City.

Who would be your three keepers to choose for the World Cup? Let us know in the comments section.

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Topics: Football News, Football, England, World Cup

Jacque Talbot is a journalist and sports writer at SPORTbible. He graduated from Manchester Metropolitan with a BA in English and Film. He is a football, snooker, and basketball enthusiast and has been published in the Daily Mail, The Guardian, The Set Pieces, Planet Football and the Morning Star. He’s the greatest thing to come out of Essex since Nick Frost.

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