Manchester City's goalkeeper Joe Hart believes Vincent Kompany will come back stronger than ever after being dropped to the bench by manager Manuel Pellegrini. The Belgium international's omission came on the back of questionable performances in losses against Liverpool, and Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.

Hart went through a similar experience last season when he was axed for eight Premier League games and admits it serves as a reminder that no player has a divine right to keep his place.

Hart told the Manchester Evening News: ‘Vinny appreciates, same as we all do, that sometimes the manager will change the squad. There is no-one destined to play every single game – I’ve learned that lesson. Vinny is an unbelievable player, one of the best I have ever played with, and that was his night off. I’m sure he will be back in the team again with that captain’s armband, being one of the best defenders in world football.’

The 2-0 defeat of Leicester kept City's title hopes alive nut the game was only the ninth time the Citizens have kept a clean sheet this season.

‘It has not been good enough,’ said Hart. ‘We’d all accept that, myself included. It’s not just the back four and the goalkeeper, we defend as a team. I don’t set out to be brutally honest but I’d struggle to say things any other way.’

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