My improvement from 12 months ago has just been so gradual. Im so grateful to Birmingham for letting me play. That has helped me grow as a keeper, not necessarily being better at doing certain things, but just being a keeper, someones keeper and being part of a team. Ive improved there. - Joe Hart, September 2010.
Its a testament to Joe Harts ability that he is the only player in the Manchester City first-team that was at there before Abu Dhabi transformed the clubs economic fortunes in the summer of 2008. Having signed from Shrewsbury Town as a 19 year old in 2006, Hart went on to wrestle with Scandinavian duo Andreas Isaksson and Kasper Schmeichel for the number one jersey, making 50 league appearances in three seasons for the club. It was during the 09/10 season when everything changed for Hart - a loan move to Birmingham City allowed him to play every week, featuring 36 times for Alex McLeish as the side finished in an impressive ninth place. The highlight of Harts time at St. Andrews was the club-record 12-match unbeaten run in the top division that the side embarked on, during which time a Premier League record was set by fielding the same starting eleven for nine consecutive games. Hart was named Birminghams Player of the Year, was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year and earned his place in the PFA Team of the Year. Having won the England number one jersey ahead of the 2010 World Cup, Hart returned to Manchester City for the 10/11 season and was subsequently chosen ahead of Shay Given as the clubs first-choice goalkeeper. Since then, he has missed just ten league games for the club and has established himself as one of the continents finest goalkeepers. Current Birmingham No.1 Darron Randolph may possess a steady set of hands, but he is no Joe Hart. So that's a wrap - what do you think? As always, feel free to leave your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
