Given Showing Suggests Hart Bypass

Shay Given’s heroics in Man City’s shootout victory over Club America appear to have dismissed fears on the Irishman’s fitness. At the same time Given’s performance drew comments from boss Roberto Mancini on the future for Joe Hart that suggest that the England-hopeful could well face a year as understudy.

As we eluded to in our earlier pre-season catch-up, Mancini’s options across the side are plentiful making it any investment in City players a real risk from a Fantasy perspective. The goalkeeping situation is of particular interest because of Hart’s achievements at Birmingham last season. Hart will struggle to build on his reputation now that he is competing head-to-head with Given at City and he could well be in for a year of frustration in which Carling Cup outings become a highlight…

Speaking after Shay Given’s saves in the 4-1 penalty shoot-out win, Mancini appeared to reassure Hart on his long-term prospects. That could be seen to suggest that in the short-term, Hart will play a cameo role for the Italian…

“Joe Hart will be first-choice goalkeeper for the next 10 years for England. I don’t know if he will be my first-choice, it depends. I will pick the players who deserve to play…I don’t know if I will rotate the players, it depends. At the start of the season I will decide who is No. 1.”

Mancini seemed to sweeten the pill for Hart by suggesting that Given was still someway short of fitness; the Club America game was Given’s first since dislocating his shoulder back in April…

“Shay is not fit at the moment. He is not 100 per cent ready to go in goal but we must wait and be patient because it was not a small problem, it was a big problem two months ago and we have a month more.”

On last night’s evidence, that looks to be a smokescreen. Given replaced Hart at half-time and went on to make two quality saves in the shoot-out; that would suggest that he is certainly on track to be fit enough for selection for the trip to Tottenham on August 14.

So, while we pick apart Mancini’s options elsewhere, perhaps we’re close to getting clarity on at least one spot in his lineup. The fact that Mancini states he will have a number one would suggest that rotation in this area could be minimal. Given could well earn the 30 starts that would make him a consideration across the Fantasy Games and make him potentially the most secure route to City defensive returns.

Those returns are of course in doubt. Given should see a flow of save points in front of a City defence that is yet to gel; 15+ clean sheets looks a long-shot however. Even so, 100+ saves and 13+ shutouts would put Given firmly in the running for our squads although his 6.0 price tag in the Fantasy Premier League game appears to ensure that the likes of Tottenham’s Heurelho Gomes and Everton’s Tim Howard – both at 5.5 – will earn more attention.

As for Joe Hart, his stock will have taken a knock after last night’s game. A run of sustained Premier League starts now looks that little bit more remote.