Hart to captain England in Lithuania clash

Joe Hart believes he's "surplus to requirements at Manchester City," but the English 'keeper knows his value when playing international football.

Gareth Southgate confirmed Hart will captain England against Lithuania on Sunday, as Gary Cahill, Wayne Rooney, and Jordan Henderson will be absent from the pitch.

Speaking ahead of England's 2018 World Cup qualifier versus Lithuania at Wembley Stadium, Hart said the likes of Michael Keane, James Ward-Prowse, and Nathan Redmond hadn't sought him out for advice upon being summoned to the Three Lions' squad, but admitted he's trying to create a positive environment.

"Whether I've been new, old or indifferent I appreciate coming into a squad is difficult and the environment we try to create together is a positive one," Hart said. "You don't want any awkwardness, especially with the fact that away from tournament football you're together for such a short amount of time. You're going to need these people to feel calm."

Hart captained England in 2015, when the Three Lions suffered a 2-0 defeat to Spain in a friendly.

"The past matters and we understand where people's (lack of) optimism outside of the environment comes from, because we're realistic," he said. "I've played in it, the new lads have seen it happen, but we're always going to have that dream, that belief that we're going to put all our good work to good use. Unfortunately when it matters, it's not been there. We need to make it happen."

In the first half of March, Hart, who is on loan at Torino after being allowed to leave City, confessed he doesn't know where his future lies and declared he'd "had no communication with anyone."