Pellegrini backs England Hart start

Manuel Pellegrini believes England boss Roy Hodgson is right to back Joe Hart - but will not confirm when he might return for Manchester City.England goalkeeper Hart has lost his place in the City side after a series of costly errors, sitting out their most recent Barclays Premier League and Champions League games.That has raised further questions over his position in the national side but Hodgson - although revealing he intends to look at other keepers this month - has made clear Hart remains his number one.Hart has not played since his last-minute mix-up with Matija Nastasic condemned City to defeat at Chelsea a fortnight ago but will start one of the upcoming friendlies against Pellegrini's native Chile or Germany.Pellegrini said: "I am happy, absolutely - he deserves to be in the squad."He has been the number one English goalkeeper for the whole of qualifying for the World Cup. I think he must be there."Hart, however, is likely to remain on the bench as City travel to Sunderland on Sunday.Back-up keeper Costel Pantilimon came in for last week's Capital One Cup tie at Newcastle and remained in place for the 7-0 thrashing of Norwich and 5-2 Champions League defeat of CSKA Moscow.Pellegrini said: "I am thinking about what is the best for the team at this moment."At this moment, I repeat, I have trust in Pantilimon."But we will continue trusting in Joe and will see when he comes back."City's victory over CSKA guaranteed a place in the last 16 of Europe's elite competition for the first time in the club's history.Qualifying for the knockout stages, after failures in the past two years, had been a minimum objective for Pellegrini this season as the club aim to make an impact on the continental stage.Pellegrini said: "For all the team (it was important), we were all involved in what we achieved in the last game. It was very important for the club also."

Source: PA