Manchester City's Joe Hart set to return for crunch with Arsenal

JOE HART could be in goal for Manchester City's crunch clash with Arsenal tomorrow.

By Graham Chase/Published 13th December 2013

HART STOPPER: Joe stops Bayern’s Franck Ribery from scoring [GETTY]

City boss Manuel Pellegrini is considering giving Hart back his Premier League starting spot for the first time since October 27.
Pellegrini ditched the England No.1 after he handed Chelsea their winning goal in a 2-1 defeat and following a string of other costly errors.

Romanian Costel Pantilimon has stepped up and played in City's last six league games.
Hart has been restricted to just two Champions League outings since being ousted by Pantilimon.
But Pellegrini still sees Hart, 26, as his long-term first choice at the Etihad Stadium.
And he is pondering whether to throw Hart back into the fray for tomorrow's top-of-the-table scrap with the Gunners. City are six points behind the leaders and a win would put them right back into title contention.


Chilean coach Pellegrini has been impressed with Hart's attitude since being dropped.
And he has slammed talk of a potential January exit for the Three Lions keeper.

THUMBS UP: Boss Pellegrini has been impressed by Hart [GETTY]

“Chilean coach Pellegrini has been impressed with Hart's attitude since being dropped”

Manuel Pellegrini

Despite conceding two goals in the early stages of the 3-2 win at Bayern Munich, Hart produced a steady display.
His only previous club action since the end of October was the 4-2 Champions League victory against Viktoria Plzen.

Pellegrini must now decide whether to plunge Hart back into the six-pointer with Arsene Wenger's men or continue to build his confidence in the Capital One Cup at Leicester on Tuesday.
Pantilimon, who is out of contract in the summer, has been a solid presence in the City goal since getting his chance.

The stopper has kept three clean sheets in his six league outings and City have lost just once in that run.
They suffered four defeats in nine matches with Hart in goal.
England boss Roy Hodgson has insisted that Hart will remain his first choice as long as he forces his way back into his City side.
Celtic keeper Fraser Forster started last month's 2-1 defeat to Chile but Hart returned to the team for the 1-0 loss to Germany.