Joe Hart to start in Manchester City's Europa League clash
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has confirmed that goalkeeper Joe Hart will keep his place in the starting line-up for the club’s UEFA Europa League play-off first-leg clash with Timisoara – throwing the future of Shay Given further into doubt.
Given had threatened to quit the club if he did not start in the opening English Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday. England international Hart was instead given the nod following his stellar year on loan at Birmingham City and continued his terrific form as he pulled off a series of top saves to keep the score 0-0 despite Spurs dominating the match. His display has helped convince Mancini that Hart should retain his place, meaning that Republic of Ireland international may be closer to a move away from the City of Manchester Stadium.
'Difficult choice'
Mancini told the club’s official website that: “Joe Hart will play. I had a very difficult choice to make before the Spurs game because I have two world-class goalkeepers. It is difficult for one of them to sit on the bench. I respect Shay Given a lot. He is a good man and I want him to stay, but I also understand any decision he might make.”
The manager also revealed that new arrivals Aleksandar Kolarov and Jerome Boateng would not feature in Romania and they did not travel with the squad. Boateng suffered a deep cut to his knee and faces around two weeks on the sidelines while Kolarov could be out of action for an extended period of time after damaging ankle ligaments in the Spurs match.
Mancini revealed that, along with having to replace the injured duo, he might make other changes to the team. He said that: "I will make maybe two or three changes but we have the players that allow me to do that."
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