David Seaman says Joe Hart's England No 1 jersey is in jeopardy ahead of World Cup
Friday 2 March 2018 23:31, UK
David Seaman admits Gareth Southgate will have a big decision on his hands regarding England’s No 1 goalkeeper at the World Cup should Joe Hart continue to struggle for game time at West Ham.
Hart has not started a Premier League game since November after falling out of favour under Hammers boss David Moyes, while Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford and uncapped Nick Pope have been mainstays at their respective clubs this season.
Seaman, who won 75 caps for England, believes Hart remains the best option for this summer's tournament in Russia due to his experience.
"It is a problem and it's getting more of a problem the more he doesn't play," said Seaman speaking at the London Football Awards in aid of the national charity, Willow.
"And in Joe's situation, the other two (Butland and Pickford) are getting closer to him. There are three goalkeepers there that are at a great standard, for me Joe is a much higher standard because of the levels that he has played at.
"It is going to be a big decision if it stays like it is at the moment. I would start questioning it, if he is not played at all.
"OK, he is playing in cups, but West Ham don't get very far in cups, so that means less games. It's going to be a tough decision but I would always go with experience."
Butland and Pickford, who are seen as 32-year-old Hart's closest challengers, are both inexperienced at senior international level - Butland has six caps, while Butland made his senior debut against Germany in November.
The former Arsenal goalkeeper fears it would be a risky move to select a relatively untested goalkeeper on the biggest stage, recalling the debut error made by Scott Carson as England failed to qualify for Euro 2008.
"I talk about different levels that goalkeepers have played at, Joe's done all of it," added Seaman.
"Jordan Pickford and Jack Butland they've not done that level so you've always got to be careful.
"Because when you look at what happened to Scott Carson when he came in for his England debut in a massive game, he made a mistake in the first five minutes and his game went. You've always got to be cautious of that.
"But we don't know yet - somebody might get injured, Joe might come in (to West Ham's team), we don't know."
