Former Leeds United defender Alex Bruce says Burnley goalkeeper Joe Hart must be certain he would be number one at Elland Road before he agrees on a move to the Yorkshire club in the summer.

It was recently reported that Hart is keen on a move to Leeds when his contract with Burnley expires at the end of the season, with the England international said to be keen to reignite his career after making just three appearances for Sean Dyche's side during the current campaign.

Bruce however, believes that Hart must look for guarantees around his playing time before agreeing to make the move to Elland Road, in order to avoid a similar situation to the one he currently finds himself in at the Clarets.

Speaking to Football Insider about whether a move to Leeds would be a good one for Hart to make, Bruce said: “He’s had a difficult couple of years, Joe, but he was undoubtedly a top-class goalkeeper when he was younger and when he was playing regularly.

“If he did go to somewhere like Leeds, he’s obviously an experienced campaigner but I just think for Joe, he needs to get back playing on a regular basis again, which he’s not done for a while."

Discussing the impact recent events at Burnley will have had on Hart, Bruce continued: “For any footballer, whether you’re a keeper or an outfield player, it’s very, very difficult when you get dipped in and out. The one thing you need to do is play consistently to find your best form and I think that’s what Joe needs to do.” 

Leeds are currently top of the Championship table, seven points clear of third-placed Fulham in the race for automatic promotion, with nine games of the season still to be played at some point.

The Verdict 

I do agree with Bruce here.

If Hart was to go to Leeds without a guarantee of first-team football, he could risk finding himself in a similar position to the one he now faces at Burnley, which would render a move pointless.

That being said, I can't really see that being an issue, with Leeds' current first-choice Kiko Casilla again coming in for scrutiny this season, and his understudy, Lorient loanee Illan Meslier, yet to experience top-flight football, someone with the title-winning pedigree of Hart would surely be appealing to Leeds as a first-choice option between the posts.