Blues left to sweat over Hart injury

MANCHESTER City were left to count the cost after Joe Hart limped off in a doubly damaging Champions League defeat at Juventus.

City lost control of Group ‘D’ as they were beaten 1–0 in freezing Turin while of equal concern was the loss of Hart to a hamstring injury in the latter stages.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini was already without six senior players, including captain Vincent Kompany and playmaker David Silva, and to lose Hart for the weekend clash with Southampton would be another major blow.

Hart said after the game the problem was “nothing – just a little bit tight”, but he and Pellegrini will have to wait until after assessment back in Manchester to learn the full extent of the injury,

Pellegrini said: “In this moment, it is impossible to know. He has a problem in his hamstring. We will see. We hope that we will not lose him but if for some reason he cannot play on Saturday I have a lot of trust in Willy Caballero.”

Caballero replaced Hart for the final nine minutes, but it was another sub, Raheem Sterling, who captured the attention as he spurned a good late chance to equalise by shooting wide.

City had trailed since Mario Mandzukic volleyed Juventus ahead in the 18th minute.

Juve’s victory not only secured their place in the last 16, but took the Serie ‘A’ champions ahead of City and into prime position to advance as group winners.