In a week when the restlessness of some young English talent has never been more apparent, the country’s most eminent goalkeeper has a message reassuring not only for supporters of his club but also those fearing for the sanity of our national sport.

‘I’m very, very happy where I am and I can’t see that changing,’ said Joe Hart this week. ‘As long as Man City want me, I will always be at Man City. I love playing here and I want it to continue. I want to give them everything. When I am in Man City mode I give my whole body and whole life for the club.’

As has been shown recently with the case of Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling, Hart’s young England colleague, a drop in standards at a club can make some players feel uncomfortable.

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart says he will remain at the Etihad for as long as the club want him

Hart knows that things have not gone as well as people would have liked at City this season. Second place in the Barclays Premier League and no other trophy to compensate is perceived as a disappointment these days. ‘I think that’s fair,’ he told Sportsmail.

‘Every time we have got into a position to kick on, we haven’t done it. We know we have to be better than that.’

From Hart, though, there is no sense of panic. City’s title defence has not been a good one and the Champions League lessons have been sobering once again.

Hart still believes the Etihad Stadium is the place to be, though. Whether team-mates such as James Milner and Yaya Toure eventually agree remains to be seen.

‘Yaya has been fantastic for us and I think one of the big reasons why we have been so successful recently,’ he said. ‘He is his own man. What he does this summer is out of my hands. If he wants to stay, we will be happy to keep him. A team with Yaya in it is a stronger team.

‘Personally, I am very close to James. I love having him around — not even to mention that he is a fantastic footballer.

The England stopper made this outstanding save against Swansea during the 4-2 victory on Sunday

Yaya Toure (right), celebrating his strike at Swansea, has been linked with a move away from City

James Milner, who wants assurances from City over his central position, has also been linked with a transfer

‘He is super-talented and doesn’t get the respect or credit he deserves. I love working with him and if that were to continue, I would be happy — but that is his business, that is his life.’

Hart is 28 and has been at City for nine years. On Sunday against Southampton he will make his 300th appearance for the club and another clean sheet could see him pick up his third Premier League Golden Glove award.

Having overcome some difficulties that saw him dropped briefly by manager Manuel Pellegrini last season, Hart has arguably since taken his game to a higher level.

The 28-year-old is set to make his 300th appearance for the club against Southampton on Sunday

Hart was hailed by Barcelona's Lionel Messi (right) after his saves thwarted the Argentine earlier this season

The 28-year-old punches a clearance during a Champions League group stage clash against AS Roma

His performance in City’s European 1-0 defeat in Barcelona was so good even Argentine superstar Lionel Messi was impressed, while the flying save he made to help City to a victory at Swansea last weekend has perhaps not been bettered by anyone this season.

Asked if that was one of his best saves, he said: ‘Yeah, I usually can’t tell but I did with that one. I thought, “Wow”.

‘I knew I wasn’t close enough to the post to put the ball round it so I knew I had to go over. I timed it well enough.’

Hart hits the ground during a devastating 4-2 Manchester derby defeat last month at Old Trafford

When we met this week, Hart looked physically more imposing than the last time we sat down, two years ago. Despite a daily gym regime, he maintains he is the same weight as when he first arrived at City from Shrewsbury Town.

Mentally, though, Hart believes he is stronger, thanks in part to some work with sports psychologist Jamie Edwards.

Hart is slightly wary when asked about it, seemingly concerned that he may be portrayed as a sportsman in need of an arm round the shoulder. That is not the case.

Team-mate Frank Lampard shakes hands with an angered Hart after the Manchester derby defeat last month

‘It’s difficult sometimes, as a man, to talk,’ he said. ‘This (working with Edwards) has opened my eyes in terms of speaking to people and being aware of what I’m doing and what I want to get out of the game.

‘He was recommended a couple of years ago and I thought, “Why not? It can’t harm”.

‘We have built up a good relationship but it’s a very small part of what I do.

Hart believes he is mentally stronger, thanks in part to some work with sports psychologist Jamie Edwards

The England No.1 voted this David de Gea save against Everton as one his top three for the season

‘I usually find myself answering most of my own questions and that just gives me a clearer picture of what I am doing.

‘It’s not a case of him making me feel better. He doesn’t have to. I’m never not feeling great.

‘I just want to improve myself as a footballer and as a person and as an athlete. This is just one small part of doing that.’

Hart featured in the shake-up for Match of the Day’s Save of the Season, having being emailed to ask for his own favourites. The award was won by Manchester United’s David de Gea.

The 28-year-old vents his frustration as Manchester City fell short in the Champions League again this season

‘We all got sent forms asking for our three best saves,’ he said. ‘I said Fraser Forster against QPR, De Gea against Everton and Kasper for Leicester against Burnley. I couldn’t spell Schmeichel!

‘I like these things. I would love to win the Golden Glove again. It matters a lot to me, just like I am incredibly proud to have played 300 times for this club.

‘It’s amazing to look back at where I have come from but it’s no different to Shrewsbury. My team-mates now just have cooler names!

Hart is adamant that City can bounce back and regain the Premier League title from Chelsea next season

‘I still do the same things and have the same motivation. I still just don’t want to let goals in so if you get some kind of recognition for that then that’s great.

‘It reflects how hard you have worked and it’s another challenge.’

In football, individual honours are always secondary. Next season the challenge for City is to try to rein in a Chelsea side that will no doubt get better after winning the title.

‘They will try to strengthen,’ acknowledged Hart. ‘They will have been together a year longer so we need to keep finding ways to win.

Hart produced a series of fine saves in the Champions League last 16 ties against Barcelona this season

‘This season, when we have lost, we have always seemed to lose in the same way. People have made it difficult for us and then managed to nick a goal.

‘We are learning from our mistakes, learning from our opponents and how people are playing against us.

‘It is difficult to keep kicking on. Winning the league is the hardest thing we have done in football. When we take ourselves away from it and look at where Man City were when I signed and look at our last five years, we have gone third, first, second, first and second. It’s consistent. It’s not like we won the league and then went off and disappeared. We are still challenging. Chelsea have kept finding ways to win games, no matter what happens. That is why they are lifting the trophy on Sunday and we are not.’

On a personal level Hart, keeping out Messi with this save, has been in exceptional form this season

Hart spoke this week on behalf of his sponsors, Head & Shoulders, something opposition supporters seem to find funny.

‘I love it,’ he smiled. ‘They always sing that song to me and it just makes me laugh. It’s as if they can’t believe that I would smile and be enjoying myself. Why wouldn’t I?

‘It’s a great life and, let’s face it, there are worse things that could be sung aren’t there?’

The City squad can't hide their frustration after another disappointing early Champions League exit