Man City: Manuel Pellegrini Can Restore Keeper Joe Hart to Best for World Cup

If there was one man who could leave the Maracana Stadium with a look of satisfaction on Sunday, it was Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

The England No. 1 was the sole reason Roy Hodgson's team remained in the friendly against Brazil with a string of great stops to deny Luiz Felipe Scolari's men from running away with the game in a dominant first-half display.

The 26-year-old has not enjoyed the best of seasons at the Etihad Stadium. The seemingly infallible presence he held as City clinched the 2011-12 Premier League title dissipated at times through the campaign.

Former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini was not slow to deliver a withering verdict on his goalkeeper in February, when the former Inter Milan boss insisted in an interview with The Guardian that he would not be slow to drop Hart from the team if he kept making mistakes.

Mancini had been equally critical of his goalkeeper when his error in the game at Southampton helped the Saints claim victory, as reported by The Sun. This came after Hart had been beaten by an Adam Johnson strike at the near post as Sunderland defeated City 1-0 on Boxing Day.

In March, Hart confessed that the criticism had left him questioning whether the former Etihad boss still rated him as a player, The Guardian reported.

The genesis for this apparent fallout between Hart and his manager could be traced back to September when the keeper claimed City had only themselves to blame as they conceded two late goals before losing 3-2 at Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage.

Mancini struck back immediately, as the Daily Telegraph reported.

"

Joe Hart should stay in goal and make saves. If anyone should criticise the team it should be me, not Joe Hart. I am the judge, not Joe Hart.

"

It appeared to be a dispiriting time for the England international and the one bright light in City's season. Their FA Cup run saw reserve goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon chosen ahead of Hart up until the final itself.

Now, though, the tide could be turning again for Hart as he prepares for a new season which culminates in the World Cup finals in Brazil next year. 

With Mancini departed from the Etihad, the arrival of Manuel Pellegrini seems all but assured, according to BBC Sport, and one of the former Malaga manager's first backroom selections may be a crucial one where Hart is concerned.

England goalkeeping coach Dave Watson, who is currently employed by Norwich City, has been lined up to join Pellegrini's backroom staff after developing such a strong bond with Hart, claims The Guardian.

The arrival of Watson, who played for Barnsley and England Under-21s in his career, would act as a tremendous fillip for Hart after the departure of goalkeeping coach Massimo Battara as part of the clear-out which followed Mancini's sacking two days after the FA Cup final defeat to Wigan.

Watson, 39, began working with Hart when the City goalkeeper was playing on loan for Birmingham City during the 2009-10 season.

Now, that partnership could be restored at Manchester City, where the need for Hart to be at his consistent best will be a primary requirement in the chase for the Premier and Champions Leagues.