Guardiola rules out Hart’s return to City

Manchester, March 1: Pep Guardiola has indicated that England goalkeeper Joe Hart’s Manchester City career is over, regardless of how well he performs at Torino. Hart has impressed in Serie A since his arrival on a season’s loan in August, having been frozen out by Guardiola.

The City manager decided on his arrival at the club last July that Hart was not suited to a possession-based style of football.

Claudio Bravo was brought in from Barcelona as Hart’s replacement, but the Chile international has been unconvincing, losing his place to Willy Caballero, the veteran back-up goalkeeper, in recent weeks.

Yet asked if there was any chance of Hart coming back, Guardiola shook his head and said: “I’m so happy with Willy and Claudio.”

Guardiola has made clear club’s permanent manager.

Shakespeare was in caretaker charge of Leicester as they beat Liverpool 3-1 on Monday in their first game since the shock sacking of Claudio Ranieri.

The Foxes, champions less than a year ago, climbed out of the relegation zone thanks to their first win in six Premier League games.

Former England manager Roy Hodgson is one of several more high-profile candidates to have been linked with Leicester.

But Simpson reckons the 53-year-old is a strong contender to land the role fulltime.

“I can’t see why not, but it’s the chairman’s decision. It’s up to him and he owns the club, he is passionate about the club.

“Those decisions are nothing to do with us but, for me, he has been really good,” he said.