Hughes questions Hart call-up

City boss bemused by Capello decision

Last updated: 17th October 2008

Hughes questions Hart call-up

Hart: International experience

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Mark Hughes fails to understand why Joe Hart was handed a senior international call-up last week.

The Manchester City keeper was added to Fabio Capello's England squad for Wednesday's trip to Belarus, immediately after helping the U21s book their place at next summer's European Championship.

Hart was part of the Young Lions side which secured their place in Sweden with a 2-2 draw against Wales on Tuesday, handing Stuart Pearce's' side a 5-4 aggregate play-off success.

He was then immediately whisked away to Minsk, where he spent the entire 90 minutes watching on from the sidelines, a decision was has baffled Hughes.

"It was a long way to go just to sit in the stand, and he had played two games in a short space of time as well," said the Blues boss.

Debate

"But we were not going to stand in the way of players progressing their international careers.

"What value it was to Joe just to go out there and watch the game is open to debate.

"He would have been around the senior squad and would have gained an understanding of what it is like under Fabio Capello.

"From that point of view, maybe it was the right decision and a good exercise.

"There was a lot of travelling and not a great deal of purpose from Joe's point of view. But he is in Capello's thoughts, and we have to be pleased about that."