• Premier League

Pellegrini denies Hart loan reports

ESPN staff
November 26, 2013
Joe Hart will not be leaving Manchester City in January © PA Photos
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Manuel Pellegrini has rejected reports Joe Hart will be allowed to leave Manchester City on loan in January.

Hart has lost his place at the Etihad Stadium to Costel Pantilimon and has not started any of City's last five games.

While he is set to return for Wednesday's Champions League game against Viktoria Plzen, a report in the Daily Mirror suggested Hart would be borrowed by Stoke, with City signing Asmir Begovic in return.

But manager Pellegrini, referring to rumours linking City with several other goalkeepers, denied that Hart will be on his way out in the winter transfer window.

"There is a lot of news about six or seven goalkeepers that we want to buy but they are not true. There is no chance that Joe Hart could go out of this squad in January," Pellegrini said.

City captain Vincent Kompany, who has been out since October 5 with a thigh injury, has resumed full training but will not face Plzen and is unlikely to be involved against Swansea on Sunday. However, injured striker Stevan Jovetic and midfielders Jack Rodwell and David Silva will miss both games.

Pellegrini added: "Vincent started working this week working with the whole squad. I think next week he could play. Jovetic, Silva and Rodwell [are out for] at least one week or 10 days more. They will not play tomorrow [Wednesday] or next Sunday."

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