Former Manchester City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart was back in Shrewsbury Town colours on Tuesday night but it doesn't appear he'll be ditching punditry anytime soon

Joe Hart made an unexpected return to Shrewsbury Town as a goalkeeper coach on Tuesday night - but the Match of the Day pundit was only helping out on a one-time basis.

The former Manchester City and England goalkeeper, 38, has moved into punditry after calling time on his fine playing career. Hart is a regular on Match of the Day and has also covered major international tournaments for The BBC, earning plenty of plaudits for his expert goalkeeping analysis.

But Hart swapped the studio for League Two on Tuesday night as he helped Shrewsbury Town - one of his former clubs - prepare for a crucial fixture away at Salford City.

Gavin Cowan, Shrewsbury's head coach, revealed Hart had offered to come and help out while the club wait on the appointment of a new goalkeeper coach following the departure of Brian Jensen.

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“It’s nothing more simple than a mate trying to help mates out,” Cowan told The Shropshire Star ahead of the game against Salford, which Shrewsbury won 2-1.

“I have spoken to Joe recently when I got appointed. Dave was in dialogue with him and we have been speaking about how just sometimes appointments take a bit of time.

“We were picking Joe’s brains on goalkeeper situations and it’s just a mate wanting to help mates. He offered to come down and be a part of what we are doing. It is just another confirmation of the class act that he is.”

Cowan continued: “Personally he is a fantastic guy. He’s not too far away - I know he is a busy guy - but it has still taken a lot to be here. But it was the first thing that he wanted to do - ‘can I offer my help and expertise’.

“He will be coming in to help us and really try to drive us towards three points.”

Cowan's comments before the game all but confirmed Hart is not planning to permanently step away from punditry to pursue a career in coaching.

And Hart, who was born in Shrewsbury and came through the Salop academy to feature for the first-team before being snapped up by Manchester City in 2006, has also previously played down his chances of going down the coaching route.

He previously wrote for BBC Sport: “I haven't taken any coaching badges, which was a deliberate decision. For some people, coaching or managing is the obvious option when they stop playing, but it is not something that has ever been ingrained in me.

“I still want to give something back, though. I am not a goalkeeper anymore but I love to talk about the art of goalkeeping, as well as how it has changed so much in my time - and how it keeps on evolving.”

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