Joe Hart joked that he was preparing to quit professional football to play village cricket when Manchester City were losing to QPR last Sunday.

Fortunately for England manager Roy Hodgson, goals from Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero made certain that the country’s best goalkeeper will still be in great shape for this summer’s Euros.

Hodgson has been problem solving this week, talking to players and coaches before naming his 23-man squad at 1pm on Wednesday.

England expects: Joe Hart is set to be the country's No 1 for a decade

At the same time he could resolve another issue and name Hart as England’s permanent captain. He is the man to lead England into the Euros and beyond, a full-time candidate for one of the most desirable positions in the international arena.

For all the arguments about Steven Gerrard, Scott Parker, Rio Ferdinand or John Terry, the Manchester City goalkeeper represents the future of the national team.

It is an opportunity for Hodgson to take this team in another direction, the start of a new era for the third full-time manager in just five years.

Injury permitting Hart will be England’s first choice keeper for the best part of a decade, creating certainty and offering consistency. No more auditions and no more angst, just a straightforward, uncomplicated appointment for Hodgson.

Hart has never made a play for the captaincy, which is something of a novelty in itself after Fabio Capello introduced beauty parades.

Instead he simply carries out with his goalkeeping duties and quietly accepts the responsibilities that come with being England’s goalkeeper.

He is young, confident and comes without baggage, the byword in recent times for the troubled issue of the England captaincy.

Hodgson should be building his team around characters like this, identifying a player who, at 25, is likely to be in this England squad for the next decade.

He has only won 17 England caps since he made his debut against Trinidad & Tobago in 2008, but inexperience is not an issue.

He is fresh and enthusiastic, something that this hardened squad needs after years of disappointment and heartbreak in tournament football.

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