Thursday 4 October 2018 17:58, UK
Gareth Southgate has suggested Joe Hart remains in contention for an England recall, despite leaving him out of his latest squad.
There was no space for Burnley keeper Hart in Southgate's 25-man squad for the upcoming matches against Croatia and Spain in the UEFA Nations League.
Instead, Southgate selected uncapped duo Marcus Bettinelli and Alex McCarthy along with Jack Butland and Jordan Pickford as his goalkeeping options.
Asked if Hart's international career was over, Southgate said: "No, not at all. It's continuity from the squad we picked last month.
"Jack [Butland] started our last game so to suddenly leave him out of the squad because he's playing in the Championship wouldn't be appropriate I think.
"From Joe's perspective, we don't need to see Joe in a game at this stage to know what he can do.
"I think it's great that he looks very settled. The move to Burnley has obviously worked for him - he looks confident in his game."
A series of impressive displays for the Clarets has seen Hart keep his place in goal ahead of fellow club team-mates Tom Heaton and Nick Pope.
The 31-year-old has kept two clean sheets in seven Premier League appearances for Burnley so far this season, his latest coming in a 4-0 victory over Bournemouth on September 22.
Hart has been capped by England 75 times but last featured for his country in a goalless draw with Brazil at Wembley last November.
Although preferring to focus on youth in the immediate future, Southgate insists the door remains open for Hart to make a return.
"We're looking at some other young goalkeepers that we need to know a bit more about," Southgate added.
"Jordan [Pickford] obviously did superbly well for us in the summer, but there's no way that long-term Joe is ruled out."
