UCL: Caballero starts for City as Hart sits on the bench

Joe Hart is again on the bench for Manchester City as Pep Guardiola’s side take on Steaua Bucharest in the Champions League playoff first-leg clash on Tuesday.

The England keeper was surprisingly left out of the starting lineup in favour of Willy Caballero for Manchester City’s 2-1 Premier League victory over Sunderland last weekend.

But while the manager initially left open the possibility that Hart could return to play in Romania, he again chose Caballero for the crucial clash.

Guardiola did admit that he was “pretty sure” that Hart is “not happy” as a backup, and sources say the keeper was considering his future with the club.

The England goalkeeper is not the only notable player missing for City, who left Yaya Toure to train in Manchester after did not make the squad for the Sunderland game.

The starting XI in City’s 4-2-3-1 formation:

Goalkeeper: Willy Caballero

Defenders: Pablo Zabaleta, Nicolas Otamendi, John Stones, Aleksandar Kolarov

Midfielders: Fernandinho, David Silva, Nolito, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling

Forwards: Sergio Aguero