Manchester City goalkeeper, Joe Hart, has been given the backing of England manager Roy Hodgson, as well as his club-mate Samir Nasri, following his recent blunders.
Hart endured patchy form as City meekly surrendered the Premier League title to Manchester United last season.
But he started the current campaign well enough, tending goal confidently to keep a series of clean sheets.
However, things have gone pear-shaped of late for the England shot-stopper, and he endured a miserable, error-strewn night as City were thumped by Bayern Munich in the Champions League this week.
Perhaps because he does not have any real alternative, Hodgson has put an arm around Hart’s slumping shoulders, ahead of England’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Poland and Montenegro.
He insists that Hart remains a top quality ‘keeper, and is still England’s number one.
"I'm not blind so I do realise this is not a good moment for Joe," said Hodgson.
"He's a proud man and a very good goalkeeper, so when he's criticised he's very unhappy. But I still believe in Joe Hart. I have faith in him and strongly believe he won't let England down and he'll play well.
“He's never let me or the team down in my time during my 18 months here, and I've every faith he'll have the confidence to put this behind him. He'll come through the games, get us through and put that bad form behind him.”
French international Nasri meanwhile, insists that while Hart may be enduring a bad run of form, he still qualifies as one of the best ‘keepers in the business, alongside the luminaries of his trade.
"Yes, I think it's [Manuel] Neuer, Joe Hart and maybe Hugo Lloris because I play with him in the national team,” Nasri said, ranking his top shot-stoppers.
“Then Buffon too. [Iker] Casillas doesn't play anymore but for me Joe is in the world's top five -- easily.
"I am not worried about him. For the first time in a long time, England have a world-class goalkeeper."
