Hart would 'accept' League Cup final snub

LONDON, March 01, 2014 - Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart says that he will be "man enough" to accept his fate if he is left on the bench for Sunday's League Cup final against Sunderland.

Hart has played in only one of his side's five games in the competition to date, as manager Manuel Pellegrini has used the tournament to give reserve goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon some playing time.

Hart had to spend time on the bench earlier in the season after Pellegrini decided to rest him following a string of mistakes, and he says he will understand if Pantilimon is given another chance to shine at Wembley.

"You have to be able to accept when you are playing or not," Hart told the Saturday edition of the BBC's Football Focus programme.

"When managers have got decisions to make, whether it benefits me or not, I have to be man enough to take it. I work hard every day to win and I understand it doesn't always go my way and you have to move forward."

Hart is expected to be England's first-choice goalkeeper at this year's World Cup and was this week named in manager Roy Hodgson's squad for Wednesday's friendly game at home to Denmark.