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Joe Hart has made a couple of high-profile errors recently.
Between the sticks

Pellegrini hints at dropping out-of-form Hart

The Manchester City goalkeeper has been a fault on a number of occasions in recent weeks and could be replaced by Costel Pantilimon.

MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER Manuel Pellegrini has hinted that under-fire goalkeeper Joe Hart could be dropped for his side’s game against Norwich City on Saturday.

Hart was criticised for racing from his line and gifting Chelsea a late winning goal in City’s 2-1 defeat at Chelsea in the Premier League last Sunday.

He was one of 10 players rested for Wednesday’s 2-0 League Cup fourth-round win at Newcastle United, with Romanian deputy Costel Pantilimon producing an assured display in his absence.

But while Hart would ordinarily expect to be recalled for the league game against Norwich, Pellegrini said that he had been impressed by Pantilimon’s performance.

“He is a very good goalkeeper and he normally plays in the Capital One Cup and the FA Cup,” said Pellegrini.

“This was a very important match for him. But I will start to think about the game against Norwich on Thursday. Today (Wednesday) I was just thinking about winning this match.

I think that we will talk tomorrow (about the team selection). One goalkeeper can play, but the other will have our full support. We will think about it.”

Asked to confirm Hart’s status as first-choice goalkeeper, Pellegrini replied: “I have just told you I will think about that tomorrow.”

Hart is England’s current first-choice goalkeeper, but his performance level has dipped this season amid high-profile mistakes in games against Cardiff City, Aston Villa and Bayern Munich.

© AFP 2013

Meet the young Irish goalkeeper pulling out all the stops at Man City

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