Malta v England: Gareth Southgate is sticking with Joe Hart

With the London club struggling at the foot of the Premier League, there has been much focus on the 10 goals Hart has shipped already in just three days.

“From my point of view, we’re three games into the season but he’s been excellent, for me,” said Southgate. “As a manager, we’ve only conceded the two goals in Scotland in this group so, for me, I think he’s rewarded me with the performances I wanted.

“I don’t think anyone else has had an opportunity yet to stake a strong enough claim to take over. But Joe knows there is competition for places, and that is healthy.

“Whether he needs a confidence boost or not, I think it’s important he plays. There was an opportunity to make a change against Malta and then change it back, but that would have created more speculation and uncertainty. I told him a couple of days ago he was playing because I felt it was the right thing to do.”

There was less of a confidence boost for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, however, with Southgate somewhat spiking the excitement of his new challenge at Liverpool by insisting that, at international level at least, he still does not see him as a central midfielder.

The England manager has deployed him there twice in his tenure, against Lithuania at home and France in Paris, and both times the result was a disappointment.

“I know where Liverpool see him, but I won’t share that,” he said. “But no, I don’t see him [as a central midfielder]. He could play as a No. 8 in certain systems, but we really like him as a wide player.

“We tried him in a couple of games to look at a different profile, but the explosive power and pace, ability to go on the outside of defenders and cross the ball, means he is more productive there.”

Southgate will name a full-strength side against Malta, an island smaller than the Isle of Wight who are four places in the world rankings behind the Cook Islands.

“Within the squad of players we’ve got, we’ve got real competition for places in every area of the field,” he said, “so you have to earn the right to get in the squad, and then get in the team. The selection process is important.”