Hart open to Blues stay

On-loan City ace interested in extending stay

Last updated: 6th February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hart open to Blues stay

Hart: Open to Blues stay

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Birmingham City's on-loan goalkeeper Joe Hart has revealed he would be interested in spending another season on loan at St Andrews.

The 22-year-old is currently on a season-long lstay with Alex McLeish's side after slipping down the pecking order at Eastlands.

Shay Given's arrival from Newcastle relegated Hart to bench duty and former boss Mark Hughes allowed him to leave on loan.

Hart has gone from strength to strength with Blues and is a strong candidate to make Fabio Capello's England squad for the World Cup finals.

The talented shot-stopper has enjoyed his time with Birmingham and has confirmed he would be interested in staying for another year.

Chance

"I was obviously struggling for a game at Manchester City," he told the Daily Mail.

"Birmingham made their intentions clear. They have given me a chance.

"There wasn't much goalkeeping movement last summer and I really wanted to stay in the Premier League.

"I'd be open to staying another season on loan but I need to see what Manchester City think at the end of the season.

"I'm here and 100 per cent focused on Birmingham until then."

Appreciate

Hart began his career with Shrewsbury Town and he admits spending time in the lower leagues makes him appreciate his time at the top.

The Blues ace has played alongside some of the best in the business and concedes that seeing their dedication ensures his feet remain on the ground.

"You don't really appreciate what professional football is about when you are a young boy," he continued.

"You think it's still a game. Then you enter the professional world and realise how serious and intense it really is.

"At that level, it's as serious as the Premier League. It means a lot to the boys. You need to win. You need to do well. Players need their appearance and win bonuses.

"It made me grow up quickly and realise just what sort of world this is. I ended up doing a proper apprenticeship at Shrewsbury. I had a great teacher in Nigel Vaughan, our youth team coach.

"So I appreciate everything I've got now. I know where I've come from and I won't forget it. When you are around the great players - like Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand or Shay Given, David James - you watch and learn and see how they don't take anything for granted.

"They work their socks off every day because it could be snatched off them. So I'm going to work hard and try to enjoy every minute of it. I feel I get more out of it when I enjoy it. All I want to do is play."