The failures of Scott Sinclair and Jack Rodwell are quickly used against City but far from being a place where English talent suffers Joe Hart has pointed out English talent flourishes at the Etihad Stadium.
Even Rodwell, usually hampered by injuries to be fair, were ‘winners’ with the Citizens.
Hart, quoted by the M.E.N, fresh from the arrivals of English talent Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph and Patrick Roberts in the past week or so has said England players have a good record at the club.
‘It can only bode well for England with our players playing for successful sides.
‘If they are playing at a high level it makes it easier for Roy to pick them. Joleon Lescott, Gareth Barry, James Milner, Jack Rodwell – they’ve all won here. We are here to win. It’s as simple as that.
‘It’s what the club wants to do and why it’s trying to move on.’
Clearly Roberts has been signed with ‘the future’ in mind, I wouldn’t rule out some involvement in the not too distant future mind.
Of course Sterling – who is making his City debut against Roma now, and scored within 3-minutes – will, fitness permitting, be selected week-in-week-out at the £49m we paid Liverpool for him!
Delph – who misses the Roma game – is the one many feel will be a ‘bench warmer’ at the Etihad Stadium but Hart added this isn’t something he sees.
‘He can hold down a place – comfortably. He’s a player that’s been around for years.
‘He had a few injuries at Villa, he came back from them and he’s really flourished in the past two years and last season especially he was amazing. It was one of the first times that I got a chance to see him, training and playing with England. I can’t speak highly enough of him.
‘I thought he was amazing, great energy, loads of bite – fantastic. He brings something to the team and he’s a good guy as well.’
Hart also went onto defend Delph following his u-turn about leaving Aston Villa for City with him understanding he was under ‘a lot of pressure’ but this move will ultimately be ‘the right decision’ with his career, at club and international level with England, benefiting from it.
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