<
>

Goalkeeper Joe Hart leaves England squad ahead of Scotland clash

Goalkeeper Joe Hart is returning to Manchester City after England manager Roy Hodgson confirmed he will not feature in Tuesday's friendly against Scotland.

It means either Ben Foster or Fraser Forster will get the chance to impress at Celtic Park when first-choice Hart, who has won 48 caps, is rested.

Hodgson lost three players from his initial 26-man squad when Michael Carrick, Andros Townsend and Leighton Baines suffered injuries and his party will be reduced to 22 with Hart going home.

"Leighton Baines was one but he got released anyway," Hodgson said in his news conference after England beat Slovenia 3-1 on Saturday to maintain their 100 percent record in Euro 2016 qualifying.

"The other of course is Joe Hart because I have still got the other two goalkeepers and they will come with us up to Scotland and one of those will play. Joe will go home."

West Bromwich Albion's Foster has won eight caps while Southampton's Forster, who played his club football for Celtic before his summer switch, has only played for his country two times.

Hart's release means he will have more time to prepare for City's next Premier League game against Swansea and their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.