Yahoo Sport 
World Cup 2018: Joe Hart left out of England's 23-man squad
Joe Hart has been left out of England's World Cup 2018 squad.
Gareth Southgate informed the on-loan Manchester City goalkeeper on Monday that he would not be included in his 23-man group for Russia.
Hart had been hoping to go to the tournament as back-up to first choices Jordan Pickford and Jack Butland but that role appears set to be handed to Nick Pope after a fine season for Burnley.
The 31-year-old started West Ham's 4-1 defeat to Arsenal in April but lost his place to Adrian for the remaining four games of the season and it is understood this was ultimately key in Southgate's decision not to include him.
Hart won the last of his 75 caps against Brazil in November and has been to three major tournaments with the Three Lions.
It is a bold - and no doubt difficult - call, but Southgate said in March that he was being "really straight with him throughout" the selection process.
"Joe's professionalism has been brilliant with us," the England boss said after the March friendlies. "He's always performed well for us. We had the best defensive record in Europe in qualifying.
"This week, even though he knew he wasn't going to be involved in the games, he's been a positive influence on the other players."
He has not played for City since Pep Guardiola arrived and looks set to leave the Etihad this summer where he has only a year remaining on his deal.
Alfie Mawson is another set to miss out with the Swansea defender having now undergone surgery on his knee following the culmination of Swansea's Premier League campaign.
Uncapped Trent Alexander-Arnold's promising season has put him in with a shout of making a World Cup squad that fellow Liverpool defender Joe Gomez looked set to join until undergoing ankle surgery.
Tottenham's Kieran Trippier looks likely to overcome a knee complaint and Southgate's decision at left-back looks tough given his desire for versatility and the competition for that role.
Liverpool's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was surely one of the "19 or 20" players that Southgate said in March had sealed their place in the 23, only for a season-ending knee injury to increase the manager's midfield headache.
Jack Wilshere has not played for his country since the Euro 2016 exit to Iceland but was in line to start against Holland in March before injury put his World Cup hopes in jeopardy.
Newcastle's Jonjo Shelvey has performed well recently but last donned the Three Lions in November 2015. Adam Lallana, England's player of the year in 2016, is a fitness doubt, although Ruben Loftus-Cheek is an exciting option.
The squad will be drawn from the privately-submitted long list of 35 handed to Fifa and, while the world governing body does not need it whittled down until June 4, Southgate will officially name the 23 on Wednesday afternoon to strip unnecessary anxiety and pressure from preparations.
England have warm-up friendlies against Nigeria at Wembley on June 2 and Costa Rica in Leeds on June 7, with the Group G opener against Tunisia in Volgograd on June 18.
