Sven: Hart is England quality

Man City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has said that Joe Hart is good enough to play for England. The Manchester City keeper is keeping Andreas Isakkson and Kasper Schmeichel out of the side, and impressed after keeping a clean sheet against Portsmouth at the weekend.

When asked if the goalkeeper was good enough for England, "Yes, he can do it," said the Swede.

"He is an under-21 already, and that usually means you can step up.

"He made some great saves today and yet he's still not happy with himself. I know why - it is his kicking."

Eriksson, who has been linked with a new wave of signings in January but denies any plans are in progress, said: "I've told him not to blame himself for that [the landslide of goals at Stamford Bridge].

"We had 10 other players on the field who should have defended better. But I could understand why he was down.

"It is not easy to come back after conceding six in a match. But he's done it, and we were a different side today to the one against Chelsea. We had to be.

"Sooner or later I have to decide whether we need another goalkeeper. I think it will be later. But our season is going well so far, and we can't complain about our home form. Away it has not been so good - but this, today, was much better.

"We could have won - but so could Portsmouth. They had chances, and we had chances. Darius Vassell, I thought was unlucky with one."