Source: Team_Talk
Mario will make the difference - Hart
Joe Hart expects Mario Balotelli to give Manchester City an extra edge after facing the striker in training.[LNB] Balotelli, 20, marked his debut by scoring the winner in the 1-0 victory against Timisoara in the Europa League play-off first leg match on Thursday night after stepping off the bench.[LNB]The goal - a deft finish from close range - puts City firmly in the driving seat for the group stages with the return game at Eastlands on Thursday.[LNB]Balotelli's UEFA registration was only confirmed the day before the match following his arrival from Inter Milan.[LNB]Even though he has been at the club only a matter of days, Hart has already been tested.[LNB]Hart, now City and England number one, said: "He has a great touch and a hell of a right foot, which is interesting to train against.[LNB]"He certainly announced himself. He had a couple of chances but it was good for him to get that first goal out of the way."[LNB]Balotelli limped off near the end and manager Roberto Mancini will monitor his fitness ahead of the home match against Liverpool on Monday.[LNB]Mancini said: "We do not think it is serious. It was probably just a kick, it is not a problem."[LNB]City improved in the second half after a slow start with Yaya Toure rattling the post before Balotelli scored an important away goal.[LNB]Hart said: "They were a hard team to break down and we had to be patient.[LNB]"They had an 11-man wall beyond the halfway line but we got there in the end."[LNB]While Hart and the rest of the group returned home following the match, Shay Given, the man he has replaced in the first two games, was heading to Munich on his own.[LNB]Given was seeing a specialist in Germany after leaving Timisoara on an early morning flight.[LNB]The Republic of Ireland international told City fans at the airport he was having further treatment on his shoulder.[LNB]He needed an operation after dislocating it in April in the 0-0 draw against Arsenal.[LNB]City have kept two clean sheets under Hart going into the match against Liverpool following the draw with Tottenham last weekend.[LNB]Mancini said: "Touch wood this will continue in the next game. It is important. We need time to improve and time to play together."[LNB]England midfielder James Milner is set to make his debut against Roy Hodgson's side after completing his protracted move from Aston Villa on the eve of the Europa League match.[LNB]Milner is the club's sixth high-profile signing of the summer as they attempt to clinch a place in the Champions League.[LNB]Jerome Boateng, Aleksander Kolarov, David Silva, Yaya Toure and Balotelli have all joined the City revolution.[LNB]However Boateng (knee) and Kolarov (ankle) are again ruled out through injury after sitting out the match in Romania.
