When Gareth Southgate phoned on Monday evening, Joe Hart knew what was coming. On being told that he would not be going to the World Cup, Hart reacted in typically dignified fashion. Hart wished the England manager well in Russia and sent “all the best to the squad” for the tournament. It was not a long call.

Hart is known to be deeply disappointed at missing out but unsurprised by the decision given his time on the bench at West Ham United. He was resigned to it coming. His main rivals, Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland and Nick Pope, are all starters for Everton, Stoke City and Burnley respectively.

If anything, Hart’s frustration is more with David Moyes, the West Ham manager (for now) who had