Joe Hart wants West Ham exit amid England 2018 World Cup squad fears

Ken Dyer29 January 2018

Joe Hart wants to be released from his season-long loan at West Ham.

Hart began the 2017-18 season as West Ham's number one goalkeeper following his move from Manchester City, but has not played a Premier League game since November with David Moyes preferring to use Adrian in goal.

Hart is concerned that now the Hammers are out of both the FA Cup and EFL Cup, his opportunities to play will be severely limited - and that will jeopardise his chances of remaining as England’s goalkeeper for this summer’s 2018 World Cup in Russia.

It looks unlikely Moyes will sanction Hart’s release unless the club find an adequate replacement before the transfer window closes.

Getty Images

West Ham's FA Cup exit at League One side Wigan on Saturday was particularly disappointing for Hart, with England manager Gareth Southgate in the DW Stadium stands as the Hammers lost 2-0.

"Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong but I think we've only got ourselves to blame with a number of the incidents that have gone on, so it's very disappointing," Hart said in quotes published on whufc.com.

AFP/Getty Images

"We conceded early but I don't think that's a good enough excuse. You go 1-0 down, you pick yourself up and get back in the game. It's a cup game and you keep fighting.

"It goes without saying that we didn't take our chances to impress. It's very disappointing on my behalf, because I want to perform and losing 2-0 at Wigan is difficult, so I'm struggling for positives."

Hart started the opening 14 Premier League games of the season after leaving Manchester on loan in search of first-team football, but a number of unconvincing displays have seen Moyes - who replaced Slaven Bilic - opt for Adrian as his regular goalkeeper of late.

Southgate said back in December that Hart remains first choice for England, though the Three Lions boss' backing came while Hart was in the process of losing the No.1 spot at London Stadium.

Southgate also admitted that there was "great competition for places" in goal ahead of the World Cup, and said he was "never settled as a coach" in terms of any facet of his team selection.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

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