Anyone, at any point, can score against you – Hart

Having started the season not knowing whether he was going to be first choice at Eastlands or Shay Given’s deputy, Hart is ending it as his country’s undisputed No 1.

Ben Foster has already given up the struggle of battling with Hart for a Three Lions berth and followed Paul Robinson into retirement, albeit on a temporary basis.

Robert Green was considering going the same way until Fabio Capello made his SOS call ahead of tomorrow’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland at Wembley.

Yet, no matter how secure Hart appears to be in his present position, as a goalkeeper, he is only ever a second from calamity.

Green’s unhappy World Cup experience is the most obvious example. But Robinson, David James and David Seaman could all recall moments when they wished the ground would open up, and they were opened up to scrutiny none of their team-mates will ever experience.

Hart accepts that analysis as an occupational hazard and has no intention of having his mind scrambled by it.

“You have to accept that sometimes it is going to happen,” he said. “But the whole point is that you can’t live in fear of preventing mistakes.

“I could be in the park playing with my nephew, who isn’t even three years old. If he kicks it in the corner, I can’t save it.

“It doesn’t matter who you’re playing or what you’re doing. You can be humbled as a goalkeeper.

“Obviously you do everything you can to prevent it, but you have to accept that anyone, at any point can score past you.”

In a sense, it is the kind of attitude that leaves Hart so well placed to make the most of his attributes.

Ask him what he thought of Wayne Rooney’s magnificent overhead kick that flashed past him to win the Manchester derby at Old Trafford in February and the answer comes back without a thought.

“It was a special goal from a special player.”

Similarly, in outlining who he wanted to win as he watched last Saturday’s Champions League final, there was no thought of a delicate political situation given where his club loyalties lay.

“I wanted an English team to win the Champions League.”

It is that straightforward view of the world that ensured a then teenage Hart kept working towards his personal aim of playing professional football for hometown club Shrewsbury, even when he was already being tipped for much bigger things.

“I was told I could play at the top long before I realised I could,” he said.

“I’ve always had a name. I don’t know how I’ve got it but I was blessed with people in the right situations saying good things about me.

“I thought it was people getting a bit carried away but I tried to repay them as best I can by working hard and taking the opportunities that were given to me.

“At the time I felt Shrewsbury was as high as I could go.

“It was where I was born, it was my local team, it was the team where I played youth football for. I didn’t think about anything else.

“I have a lot of love for them because they gave me my opportunity.”

Yet, even at the start of this season, Hart was on tenterhooks as City manager Roberto Mancini made up his mind who would be his club’s No 1.

“I was not going in there thinking I was going to play. I was well aware of what might happen,” said the 24-year-old.

“I have total respect for Shay Given. He is one of my heroes in the Premier League. It is a shame there is only one spot for a goalkeeper.

“Quite a lot of things have gone my way. I have been lucky in a few situations and had a few breaks.

“Fortunately both managers have picked me and it is up to me to keep my place.”

It is anticipated Hart will be the goalkeeping anchor in a quite predictable England team this weekend.

Rio Ferdinand’s return alongside John Terry is regarded as automatic and it would be a major surprise if Scott Parker was not handed the midfield holding role.

It means the right-wing berth will be contested between Theo Walcott and Adam Johnson, with the Arsenal man tipped to get the nod ahead of the former Middlesbrough wide man.

Johnson has admitted suffering World Cup rejection 12 months ago has driven him on to improve as a player with England and Manchester City.

Johnson was part of Capello’s provisional squad of 30 for the finals in South Africa but failed to make the final 23. The winger has responded by helping City qualify for the Champions League and win the FA Cup this season and impressed when on international duty.

Johnson said: “I was really disappointed last summer to miss out on the World Cup finals.

“I was pleased to get in the 30 but really disappointed not to go to South Africa.

“Maybe in hindsight, it was a blessing in disguise for me, a bit too soon after coming out of the Championship.

“But it has certainly helped me drive myself on even more.”