Manuel Pellegrini has been handed a massive boost ahead of City’s trip to Stoke this weekend, with news that Joe Hart could return between the sticks. The England number one has missed City’s last two games, victories against Southampton and Hull, after sustaining an injury to his hamstring in a Champions League match against Juventus.

The Guardian claim that he has returned to full fitness and is ready to resume his job as City’s first-choice goalkeeper, with Willy Caballero having been unable to keep his opponents out.

The Argentinian goalkeeper didn’t pick up a clean sheet in either of the games which Hart missed out on – whilst the England international has kept seven in the Premier League alone so far in 2015-16.

City travel to the Britannia Stadium on Saturday afternoon for the Premier League’s early kick-off. Stoke have scored in both of their last two games against City – a 4-1 loss to the Citizens back in February, and a 1-0 win over the then-champions in August last year.