Man City boss hails keeper Joe Hart

• Reuters, Friday, December 27, 2013 12:42 PM

Two months after dropping the English national team's No. 1 goalkeeper following a number of blunders, Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini hailed goalkeeper Joe Hart as "the best in England."

Hart, 26, played his first EPL game in nearly two months in the 4-2 win at Fulham on Dec. 21 and he made several outstanding saves on Thursday when City beat Liverpool 2-1. Hart was replaced by Romanian Costel Pantilimon early in November, one week after an error that allowed Fernando Torres to score Chelsea's winner in a 2-1 Man City loss. Hart appeared to be suffering a loss of confidence although Pellegrini still picked him for Champions League and League Cup matches.

"He has worked very hard in the last month and a half," Pellegrini said. "He is the best goalkeeper in England. I am very pleased with Joe. ... Not only (for) now, but I think in all the games he played in the last month. He did very well. I thought it was good for Joe to have a rest. He was not in his best moment."

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