Hart welcomes competition

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart is ready for competition from the possible arrival of a new keeper in January.

The 21-year-old signed a new five-year contract with the club last week and has established himself as City’s number one this season.

City has been linked with top-class keepers such as Gianluigi Buffon and Iker Casillas in recent weeks.

“There’s so much speculation around this club but if you listened to it you would be lost. You would make yourself dizzy,” said Hart.

“With a new manager, everything starts again. The clock starts from zero. But I see it as a challenge – and a positive challenge at that.

“I’m still playing now so I’m happy with how it’s gone. I’m not really worried. There’s nothing I can really do about it.

“Obviously, they want competition at the club but it’s out of my hands really. I just want to keep playing. There’s not just talk of Buffon, there’s talk of anyone.

“There’s Casillas, too. You can name anyone who’s good and he will be linked with City.

“If there’s any truth in it all, I don’t know. I have just got to carry on playing and see how it all pans out.”

[Source: The Press Association]