Joe Hart’s future had been up in the air for some time before eventually joining Burnley on a two-year deal from Manchester City. The former England number one has drifted around for the last two years without any club making any serious effort to buy him, but a goalkeeping injury crisis at Burnley has forced Sean Dyche’s hand.
Burnley have seen their first and second-choice keepers, Pope and Heaton, go down with injuries during pre-season and that has opened the door for Joe Hart’s career to be revived.
4 – Joe Hart made four errors leading to opposition goals in the 2017-18 Premier League; one more than the entire Burnley squad combined (3). Claret. pic.twitter.com/TSxEwbjIC1
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 7, 2018
After being an ever-present in goal for City during their 2012 and 2014 title wins Hart was forced out the door once Pep Guardiola arrived and deemed the Shrewsbury-born stopper surplus to requirements. In the end, it was down to Hart’s inability to pass it out from the back according to Guardiola and that meant that Hart’s city career was in danger of ending should the Spaniard be successful at the Etihad.
Two years on and Guardiola has been a roaring success at City after guiding them to the title last year by reaching 100 points for the first time in the Premier League. All of Guardiola’s success has meant that Hart has been without a parent club that wants him. Last year’s loan deal at West Ham proved to be another frustrating year for Hart after he lost the number one jersey to Adrian and that effectively ruled out a permanent move to the London Stadium.
Moving to Burnley now is a sensible option for Hart and it won’t involve having to pack up and move house. In actual fact, not a lot will change for Hart surrounding-wise and that will help a lot with getting settled in quickly at Turf Moor.
Burnley is an unrecognizable club these days and manager Dyche has built up a solid squad that punches well above their weight. Their foray into Europe this season broke a 51-year record of not having played in any European competition and Hart will go straight into their squad for the qualifying games.
The Clarets will have an assured keeper at the back in Hart who has 75 caps for England and over 300 in the Premier League. This isn’t a club that is looking over their shoulder anymore and a top-half finish looks more likely than relegation. Punters who feel Dyche can guide his troops to another top-half finish at 10/3 can claim $200 in bonus bets from Ladbrokes on Oddschecker.
BREAKING: Burnley Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of England international Joe Hart on an initial two-year deal. More to follow. pic.twitter.com/bkyAuXKlMS
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) August 7, 2018
Burnley and Hart seem a good fit and both have lots to gain by enjoying a fruitful relationship.
Injuries to goalkeepers are always bad news for future prospects as once a new goalkeeper comes in, it is their shirt to lose. Hart has been handed a lifeline by Burnley and if he has any aspirations about playing for England again he will make sure he establishes himself as Burnley’s number one.
