David de Gea: "Joe Hart is a great keeper"

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 04 November 2013

Manchester United's David de Gea gives his backing to rival keeper Joe Hart after the England number one was dropped by Manchester City.

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has backed Joe Hart to bounce back from his recent poor form.

Hart was dropped from the Manchester City side for their 7-0 rout of Norwich City on Saturday after a number of high-profile mistakes this season, the most recent of which cost his side a point in their Premier League clash with title rivals Chelsea last weekend.

The England number one keeper will also sit out the Champions League match against CSKA Moscow tomorrow, but De Gea believes that the 26-year-old is too good not to return to the starting lineup eventually.

"Joe Hart is a great keeper. It's very complicated to play at the top level and never to make mistakes," PA quotes De Gea as saying.

"I am sure he will work very hard to go back into the first 11 and sooner or later he will make it."

Replacement keeper Costel Pantilimon will play in his third consecutive game on Tuesday, while Hart's England spot is also under threat with Fraser Forster being tipped to feature against Chile and Germany later this month.