Reports are emerging that Joe Hart has been dropped by Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini from the side to face Norwich City at the Etihad Stadium tomorrow.
Pellegrini had earlier today refused to confirm which ‘keeper he would pick for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with relegation threatened Norwich City.
He said: “Tomorrow you will know the XI that starts. It’s a decision I have to take every week.”
It’s understood that Hart has been dropped in favour of Romanian ‘keeper Costel Pantilimon who started the Capital One Cup game against Newcastle United on Wednesday this week and kept a clean sheet – City’s first clean sheet since the previous round of the Carling Cup which also had Pantilimon in goal.
The Romanian trained behind the first choice starting defence in the build-up to the Norwich game and it’s now assumed that Hart will be on the bench on Saturday.
Hart’s form has been the subject of fevered speculation and comment in recent weeks after a series of high profile errors for club and country brought him under increased pressure and Pellegrini’s patience may have worn thin after the most recent clanger against Chelsea when Fernando Torres was allowed to score the winner for Jose Mourinho’s side in the 90th minute following a defensive mix-up between Hart and Matija Nastasic.