Joe Hart says that there are no chances of him coming back to Man City before the end of the season. While expressing his sympathy for the injured Given, he made it clear that he expected to remain in Birmingham:
”All I can do is wish him a speedy recovery and hope he gets back between the posts as quickly as possible. The loan? As far as I know, that’s the way it is. I will be staying here.
”I really enjoy what I’m doing with the boys at Birmingham and in training and just try to repay their efforts with my performances.”
City are in the midst of a goalkeeping crisis with Gunnar Nielsen as their only goalie left in their push for the fourth and final CL spot.
Indications are that Hart might also tire of playing understudy to Given and seek out a starting role elsewhere. Which means that he could end up at Birmingham or go to another club should they make a reasonable offer.
City are now understood to have turned their interest onto Sunderland’s Martin Fulop, the backup to Craig Gordon.