Shay Given's move to Manchester City left Joe Hart looking for a fresh challenge for the 2009/10 season.
Professional Footballers' association announce nominees for Players' Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year
Shay Given's move to Manchester City in January 2009 left Joe Hart looking for a fresh challenge for the 2009/10 season.
Having established himself as City's first-choice goalkeeper before Given's arrival, Hart was eager for first-team football to ensure he continued his rapid development.
The 22-year-old joined newly-promoted Birmingham on a season-long loan and went straight into the Blues' starting line-up.
Conceding just one goal in his opening three games, Hart soon settled at St Andrews and but for being ineligible for the two games against Man City, he has been an ever-present in the Premier League.
After sitting out the home game against his parent club in November, Hart immediately returned to the side and went on to help the Blues set a club-record 12-match unbeaten run in the top flight.
That included holding league leaders Chelsea to a goalless draw at St Andrews in December, in which Hart caught the eye with the latest in a string of impressive performances.
The former Shrewsbury trainee not only demonstrated his shot-stopping ability with three outstanding saves but also his bravery by playing on after suffering a severe gash to his head while diving at the feet of Salomon Kalou.
Birmingham were tipped as potential relegation candidates at the start of the season but Hart has played a major role in helping the Blues establish themselves in the top half on their return to the Premier League.
And Hart's form has not gone unnoticed as he has repeatedly been touted for a call-up by Fabio Capello for England's World Cup squad this summer having won his only previous cap in a friendly against Trinidad & Tobago in June 2008.
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