Manuel Pellegrini believes that a period of time in exile for Joe Hart was good for him. that The England No.1 put in a spellbinding performance in City's 3-2 victory over Everton on the weekend. However, back in October, the shot-stopper was dropped for a length of time following a number of blunders.

That proved shrewd management. Since his reintroduction Hart has been the foundation for City’s excellent Premier League run.

Pellegrini has been speaking to The Manchester Evening News.

“Of course I think not only today, the second round of Joe has been a very good performance. One of the good things that we did this year was to talk to him and sit him (out) some games because he was in a very bad moment but he reacted as a professional player, the number one in England.

“I think the whole team worked very hard, from the beginning it was not easy, when you are losing 1-0 here away, then to score and to go 3-1 up, so I think the whole team played very well.”

Two more wins and the title is City's. A few weeks ago some City fans were doubting we could make it after the defeat at Anfield and a draw at home to Sunderland.

Pellegrini is quick to point out the draw with Sunderland wasn't as bad as people feared at the time.

“After we lost against Liverpool I think we had to play against Sunderland three days and everyone thought Sunderland was a very easy team, but not so easy they beat Chelsea and now they beat Manchester United. So there are merits in the draw at our stadium.”

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