Fabio Capello has tipped Manchester City's Joe Hart as an England star of the future but feels he has little goalkeeping talent at his disposal.

The England manager said he had only a "reduced" pool of players to choose from and appeared to give David James a less-than-glowing reference, saying he "had to" pick the Portsmouth goalkeeper for the friendly against Switzerland.

It is thought Capello wanted to call Hart into his senior squad for the friendly against Switzerland but decided to let him play for the Under-21s in their European Championship qualifier against the Republic of Ireland.

Speaking to an Italian radio station, Capello said: "Only 38 percent of the players are English. The pool is reduced. I have had to reinstate a 37-year-old goalkeeper [James] but I have spotted one in the Under-21's who is very interesting."

Manchester United youth player Tom Heaton and Joe Lewis of League Two Peterborough were the other keepers in Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce's last squad.

James has had a chequered history in the national team but is enjoying a purple patch of form and was exceptional in the FA Cup against Preston North End on Sunday.

Scott Carson and Chris Kirkland were the other keepers in Capello's first squad, while Robert Green and Ben Foster, who is currently injured, are also seen as contenders for the number one shirt.

Green reacted to being dropped from the squad by playing the next game wearing gloves with 'England's number six' stitched into them.

Despite the restricted choice of players and an overbearing media, Capello is enjoying England.

"Their culture is extraordinarily beautiful. The stadiums are always full, they give their utmost but it is always in the correct way. The referees let the game run in contrast to Italy where the play is constantly broken up," he said.

"But certainly the media pressure is heavy, particularly on the national coach," he joked.

Alex Chick / Reuters