Published: 05th June 2012
ROY HODGSON has challenged Joe Hart to be his Gordon Banks at Euro 2012.
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The Three Lions boss knows keeper Hart will have to be at his very best if injury-ravaged England are to have any chance of success in Poland and Ukraine.
Hart, who is brimming with confidence after winning the Premier League title at Manchester City, flies out with the squad today ahead of Monday’s opener against.
And Hodgson believes he has the potential to be ranked alongside Banks, England’s legendary World Cup winning goalkeeper of 1966.
Hodgson said: “If you look at the top England teams of the past we have often had a goalkeeper that people have suggested is one of the best in Europe or, in the case of Gordon Banks, one of the best in the world.
“Joe Hart will be vital. His form for Manchester City has been superb.
“When he has played for England he has done very well.
“If we are to do well there is no doubt we will need Joe in top form.
“He produces the saves a normal keeper wouldn’t. That lifts your team higher up. It also gives confidence.
“I agree 100 per cent with Brian Clough’s view; he always placed great faith in goalkeepers.
“Brian felt they got you a lot of points every year.“
Hart, 25, has been capped 18 times and kept a clean sheet in the 1-0 win over Belgium at Wembley on Saturday.
He went to the 2010 World Cup as third choice behind Rob Green and David James — and never got his hands dirty.
But he is now very much the country’s No 1 and is ready for the French.
The City star said: “Hopefully, it’s just coming up nice for the France game.
“We’ll have a great group of fans behind us, we will be united as a team and we’ll give it a real good go.”
Meanwhile, left-back Leighton Baines has admitted he knows he is not first choice but is ready to step in at a moment’s notice.
Chelsea’s Ashley Cole is regarded as one of the best left-backs in the world and has been an almost permanent England fixture for a decade.
Everton ace Baines, 27, said: “I don’t really think that much about it. I just try and play as well as I can for my club and, hopefully, keep getting called up.
“I knew where I stood beforehand, so it’s nothing new really.
“It’s about physically and mentally keeping yourself as fresh as possible so you are ready when called upon.
“It’s disappointing not to get a run out but it’s understandable as the manager probably wants to play what will be his back four in the tournament.
“It’s my first tournament so I’m just buzzing to be going and it will be a fantastic experience for a lot of us.”
The defender has urged Everton to try to hold on to their best players with Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini — who Baines faced at Wembley — attracting attention from several clubs.
Baines added: “Felli was a different class on Saturday, a lot of our lads said that when they came off, and it’s important to keep people like that.”
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