World Cup

Manuel Pellegrini tips Joe Hart to star for England at World Cup

By Matt Cotton, Reporter | 08 January 2014

Manuel Pellegrini says that he did England a favour by dropping Joe Hart at Manchester City ahead of the summer's World Cup in Brazil.

Manuel Pellegrini believes that England will reap the benefits of Joe Hart's time on the bench for Manchester City.

Following a series of errors, Hart found himself forced to settle for a place among the substitutes with Costel Pantilimon favoured in goal, resulting in mass speculation about his international future and whether he would be England's number one for this summer's World Cup.

However, Hart has since won his place back for the Premier League title challengers, and Pellegrini feels that the series of events will bring the best out of the 26-year-old goalkeeper at the major tournament in Brazil.

"For me it is very important Joe is the best performer in the national team for England, of course that's very important - and [for] Micah Richards, and [Joleon] Lescott, and every England player we have," Pellegrini told the press. "I'm very pleased [we rested Hart] because I think we made the right decision at the right moment.

"It was very good for the team and it was very good for Joe Hart, for everyone.

"Joe Hart took it in a good way. He worked hard and came back to his normal [level of] performance."

Manchester City face West Ham United in the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.