For the first time since May of last year, Joe Hart will taste Premier League action this weekend.
Hart is hopeful of getting his career back on track at West Ham, having signed on loan from Manchester City last month.
The goalkeeper’s time at Torino last season was far from memorable but he has the opportunity to prove himself England’s undisputed No. 1 if he impresses under Slaven Bilic in the 2017/18 campaign.
City manager Pep Guardiola clearly has no interest in the stopper and Hart has made no secret of the fact that he would have preferred a permanent move away from the Etihad this summer but several factors made that impossible.
The 30-year-old will have to make do with a loan spell at London Stadium and his first competitive start for his new side will come against Manchester United on Sunday.
Hart sported a black eye at the pre-match press conference and had a hilarious answer for a reporter’s question about his shiner.
“Well the induction was to have a fight with Andy Carroll,” Hart joked. “No, yesterday I spread for the ball. I get hit in the face a lot and this is the first time it actually marked me.”
"My @WestHamUtd initiation was to fight @AndyTCarroll!"
Joe Hart explains his shiner and getting to know his new team-mates. 😂🙈 #WHUFC pic.twitter.com/5moDL7Ln5W
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) August 13, 2017
Hart insists that he is no longer concerned about the opinion of Guardiola, who never fancied Hart’s ability with the ball at his feet, and he is just concentrating on settling in with the Hammers.
“I’m trying to make a point to Slaven Bilic, he’s my coach,” Hart said. “I’m trying to make my point to Gareth Southgate, they’re my coaches, they’re the people whose opinions I care about.
“I’ve always said the standard of ‘keepers in England is very high. It’s a privileged position to play for the country. Every single time I’ve put on that number one jersey I have been very proud and very excited for what comes with it.”
