Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is "convinced" that goalkeeper Joe Hart will return to top form in the near future.

The England international has been dropped from the North-West outfit's last four games in favour of Costel Pantilimon following a number of blunders.

However, there have been suggestions that Hart could return to the fold against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday following an impressive display for England against Germany.

"I think at this moment that maybe Joe needs a rest but we still have a lot of trust in Joe and he's still a very important player in our squad," Pellegrini told Sky News Arabia.

"It's very important for me as a manager, you don't have 11 players, you have 22. I analyse what they do every week, I talk with them. I am absolutely convinced he will come back to his performances of the last two years."

City are currently eighth in the Premier League table.