Source: Daily_Mail
Shay Given is axed! Joe Hart is Manchester City No 1 - EXCLUSIVE
Joe Hart has been told he will start in goal for Manchester City today, throwing into doubt Shay Given's future at Eastlands. [LNB]Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Given, 34, admitted this week he would consider his future should City manager Roberto Mancini leave him on the bench for the Barclays Premier League opener at Tottenham this lunchtime.[LNB]A source close to Given said last night: 'Shay respects the manager's decision even if he thinks it's wrong. He is very, very disappointed, particularly bearing in mind his performances for City since he joined. He'll meet his advisers over the weekend and consider his options. Until now Shay has been really happy at City.' [LNB] Move over: Joe Hart will start in goal for Manchester City prompting questions over Shay Given's future[LNB]Given's demotion is sure to be welcomed by England manager Fabio Capello, who has decided 23-year-old Hart will be his first-choice goalkeeper for the Euro 2012 qualifiers. [LNB]Hart made his first England start in Wednesday's 2-1 triumph over Hungary and Capello will be at White Hart Lane to watch his No 1. [LNB]City remain confident they will be able to keep both goalkeepers satisfied and are determined to prevent Given leaving. The development will, however, alert Arsenal and Fulham. [LNB]Mancini yesterday backed £22.5million signing Mario Balotelli to become one of the best strikers in the world after the Italy star agreed a five-year deal. As the City manager all but signalled the end of Craig Bellamy's time at Eastlands by branding the Welshman a liar, he described the precociously gifted if petulant Balotelli as one of the signings of the summer. [LNB]Mancini, who hopes to add Aston Villa and England midfielder James Milner to his squad by the middle of next week, worked with the 20-year-old at Inter Milan and said: 'Balo is a young guy with a strong character but he is also a good guy and, most importantly, a fantastic player. [LNB] Sign on: Manchester City's new signing Mario Balotelli (L) puts pen to paper with the club's football adminisration officer Brian Marwood[LNB]'He is just young and, like all young guys, sometimes his behaviour is different. But it's false to say he is not a good man. [LNB]'In England, he could be fantastic. He can improve here. He is changing country, changing his club, and that will be better for him. I don't think he'll have problems. [LNB]'He can play on the wing, as a first striker or a second striker, and in one or two years he will be one of the best in the world.' [LNB]Mancini was less complimentary about Bellamy, who earlier this week all but secured his passage away from City by declaring Mancini had not spoken to him for six months. 'It's false,' said Mancini. [LNB]'I speak with the players every day. And Craig played always last year. [LNB]'This is the problem with the new rules. I have to put on the list 25 players. The others who will be out probably must choose another team. Craig is out of the list.' [LNB] Nearly done: Mancini is confident of signing Aston Villa midfielder James Milner soon[LNB]So is Stephen Ireland, who it is hoped will move to Aston Villa as part of the Milner deal if the situation surrounding his demand for a £2m pay-off can be resolved. [LNB]Ireland is demanding the remarkable sum because he believes he is owed £5m under the terms of his contract. At this stage City have offered him nothing. [LNB]'I don't know this situation but I don't have £2m for him,' said Mancini, laughing. [LNB]'But he played here all his life and he needs to change. I'm sure if he changes his life, his football, he will improve.' [LNB]While Mancini said he was 'confident' of luring Milner, former City manager Mark Hughes made the first significant move to sign Bellamy for Fulham. [LNB]He said: 'Craig was one of the best players in the Premier League last season and, if we could get into a position where we could conclude a deal, we would be very interested. From Craig's point of view it is very important he makes the right decision for his career. A wrong decision at this point could hurt him.' [LNB] End of the road: Craig Bellamy appears to have played his last game for Manchester City[LNB]Hughes defended Bellamy against the criticism from Mancini. [LNB]'He's a very honest guy and, if someone asks him a question, he won't duck it,' said Hughes. [LNB]'It's refreshing. He was telling people what the situation is in his eyes. He might think that coming here is exactly the right thing. [LNB]'Craig is an outstanding professional - one of the best I've worked with but also a very demanding character. The time you get a reaction from him is when he thinks the work he's doing won't benefit him or the team, if he thinks people are wasting his time. [LNB]'The way I work, every training session has a meaning and structure and there were very few times when Craig could question the work he was doing.' [LNB] Sign up to our FREE Fantasy Football game - with £40,000 in prize money up for grabsIt's official! Mancini finally gets his man as Balotelli seals £23m Manchester City moveMilner set for Villa opener as Man City switch stalls on Ireland exchangeFulham boss Hughes faces fight as he eyes reunion with City outcast BellamyClick here for all the weekend Barclays Premier League team newsMANCHESTER CITY FRC
