Joe Hart should be given a second chance by Pep Guardiola – like Yaya Toure was – according to former Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given
Hart was dismissed by the new boss in the summer and has been rebuilding his career in Italy on loan at Torino
PEP GUARDIOLA should admit his mistake and give Joe Hart a second chance, like he did with Yaya Toure, according to former Manchester City keeper Shay Given.
The England ace was brutally shipped out on a season-long loan to Torino by the all-powerful Etihad boss at the start of the season.
Hart’s lack of passing range and fancy footwork were not up to Guardiola’s demands and ball-playing Claudio Bravo was brought in.
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However the £17million Barcelona signing has only made things worse and the superstar squad and manager are already out of the title race - by Guardiola’s own admission – after a 4-0 thumping by Everton.
After a tough Serie A debut, Hart has improved dramatically and bravely played through a brutal facial injury in the Coppa Italia clash with AC Milan on January 12.
Given told : “Joe was maybe harshly treated at the start of the season.
“But he is still on the books, he is still a Manchester City player.
“Yaya Toure, for the first three or four months, he wasn't getting a look-in and he managed to change Guardiola's mind. Why can Joe Hart not do that?
“Maybe bring him back in January and have a look at him at least this season before he makes another decision in the summer.”
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Toure looked doomed at City when Guardiola arrived and axed him from his first-team squad, carrying on the feud they started at Barca.
The midfielder’s outspoken agent Dimitri Seluk didn’t help matters with repeated verbal digs at Guardiola.
But an improved work-rate and lack of competition helped Toure get back in the team that is now floundering down in fifth, ten points off the top.
Pep came to England to prove he could win without Lionel Messi but the club is already offering Barca £100million for the Argentine genius.
Reserve ‘keeper Willy Cabellero is set to be released when his contract ends in the summer and City are already looking for a replacement.