Joe Hart says he sees little benefit in being rested by Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City

ENGLAND goalkeeper Joe Hart said he could see little benefit in being rested as he prepared to return between the posts for Manchester City.

HULL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Wilfredo Caballero (L) of Manchester City warms up with team-mate Joe Hart before the Barclays Premier League match between Hull City and Manchester City at KC Stadium on September 27, 2014 in Hull, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

ENGLAND goalkeeper Joe Hart said he could see little benefit in being rested as he prepared to return between the posts for Manchester City in Tuesday’s Champions League group match against Roma.

Hart was replaced by pre-season signing Willy Caballero for Premier League champions City’s 4-2 win at Hull at the weekend but has been widely tipped to be restored to manager Manuel Pellegrini’s starting side for the European tie at home to Italian side Roma.

The 27-year-old Hart was briefly dropped last season after several high-profile errors but regained his place - one he doesn’t want to lose for any reason, including being rested.

“It is hard for me to see it that way,” Hart told a news conference on Monday.

“I am sure when I retire from football I will see them, but right now I am not going to see them.

“Of course I want to play every game, that is my nature, my professionalism. I am not the manager, just a player. I live by the decisions of the manager.

Joe Hart of Manchester City looks on from the bench.

“We have always had good goalkeepers, David James, (Andreas) Isaksson, Kasper (Schmeichel), (Costel) Pantilimon, it has always been a fight for me to keep my place and that will continue, but I have always had high standards that I will keep to, whether there is one goalkeeper or 20. I love the challenge.” Tuesday’s match at Eastlands is set to see Hart playing against former England teammate Ashley Cole, who moved from Chelsea to Rome in pre-season.

Hart’s former City colleague Micah Richards is also now playing football in Italy, with Fiorentina.

But Hart said he was in no hurry to play club football abroad. “I have got a lot of respect for what the boys have done, Micah being closest to home for me,” he explained.

“He seems to be loving it out there, but right now I am happy with what is going on at this club. We are fighting on all fronts. “While I am welcome here, I am more than happy to stay here and see where that takes me.” Roma have made a superb start to the season, winning all five of their opening Serie A matches and thrashing Champions League group rivals CSKA Moscow 5-1.

That makes them formidable opponents for a City side who conceded a last-minute winner to Bayern Munich in their opening European match.

Originally published as Joe Hart says he sees little benefit in being rested by Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City