Liam Ridgewell has hailed the impact made at Birmingham City by on-loan Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Hart joined Blues on a season-long loan from Manchester City to gain regular first-team football after the arrival of Shay Given at Eastlands from Newcastle last January limited his opportunities.

Ridgewell said: "It was disappointing when Joe got a bit of stick because he came on loan to us and obviously he has got to settle in.

"To give someone stick so early was disappointing. I think he has proved his worth and he is a fantastic keeper.

"In two or three games recently, he has not had a lot to do but then made crucial saves.

"It's like the gaffer (Alex McLeish) said, that a good keeper is someone who hasn't done anything and then they pull off an important save.

"He has been fantastic so far. He has got a good chance of going to the World Cup.

"Harty is competing with people like Robert Green and Paul Robinson, whom he has faced in the last two games, and has got as good a chance as anyone."