Joe Hart set to stay at Manchester City - unimpressed by alternatives

Joe Hart is set to stay at Manchester City, with the 29-year-old conscious this will threaten his status as the England No1.

Hart remains open to all options but with only eight days until the close of the summer window he is yet to receive an offer that is considered suitable for his long-term career.

On Monday Sam Allardyce stated Hart would be in his first England squad, announced on Sunday, but was clear that the goalkeeper – as with any player – would have to play regularly if he is to be part of the squad on a continual basis.

Allardyce said on Monday: “In the end it is critical [that a player is playing]. If it’s a short period of time, maybe not – they come back in the team and everything goes fine.

“If it goes for a longer period then it’s difficult to select them, based on how they feel – never mind from a training point of view – and to known can they go and play at that level having not played for their own team for a considerable amount of time? So it is a concern.”

Hart is aware of this. Yet despite facing the prospect of being third choice at City behind Willy Caballero and Claudio Bravo, if the Chilean signs from Barcelona as expected, and therefore not even being in match-day squads, there is currently no option for him to move which appeals to him.

This could yet change but Hart has accepted he may not be able to move until the January window, at the earliest.

Vincent Kompany is edging closing to a comeback after participating in a training session with the rest of the Manchester City squad on Tuesday.

Guardian services