Joe Hart Injury Scare Highlights Importance of Keeper to Manchester City

Joe Hart’s best performances for Manchester City have often come in the Champions League, and he produced another excellent display on Wednesday against Juventus.

It may not rival his finest games, but the England goalkeeper made two wonderful stops—one from Mario Mandzukic and another from Alvaro Morata—as City lost 1-0 in Turin, a result which means Juventus have leapfrogged the Blues in the Group D table.

Juventus now go into Matchday 6 knowing a win away in Seville will see them win the group.

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ICYMI: Action from last night's @ChampionsLeague loss to @juventusfc. Watch: https://t.co/XGDWriyCbY #MCFC pic.twitter.com/G1eS8d83Bv

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) November 26, 2015"

Hart’s evening was soured, though, when he came off with 10 minutes left holding his hamstring.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini said his ‘keeper will be assessed when he returns to Manchester, with his place in the side for Saturday’s home game against Southampton thrown into doubt.

“We will see tomorrow,” he told reporters after the match. “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.

“Joe is playing very well, but Willy is also a good goalkeeper. We are going to have seven or eight players injured, will see tomorrow the medical report about the other players and we will see the team that must start on Saturday against Southampton.”

As Hart left the stadium, he told the gathered journalists that his hamstring was “just a little bit tight." Pellegrini will be hoping it’s a prognosis that proves to be accurate.

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Hart on his hamstring injury pic.twitter.com/PFLn1SLEbc

— Andy Hampson (@andyhampson) November 25, 2015"

Hart’s save from Mandzukic was perhaps one of his best for the club. The Croatian hit the ball firmly on the volley, but the City ‘keeper, unsighted by a defender, got down low to his left and produced a moment of brilliance to keep the ball from going in.

It was the latest example of his ability, with his only error this season coming against Norwich City when he inexplicably dropped a simple ball onto the foot of Cameron Jerome. He made up for that mistake moments later with a superb save that proved crucial as the Blues won the game late on.

Hart has been a beacon of consistency, a player Pellegrini can rely on and one whose affinity for the club makes him a firm fans’ favourite.

Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

The 28-year-old has been questioned in the past. His distribution and concentration were thought to be letting him down, but he’s made significant improvements to his game in recent months and looks better now than he ever has.

He is perhaps underappreciated. While foreign counterparts, such as David De Gea and Hugo Lloris, are consistently in receipt of plaudits, Hart’s improvement and excellent form have gone somewhat unnoticed.

City are lucky to have him, as are England who are suffering from a dearth of goalkeeping talent.

The problem City have is the unfathomably large drop in quality from Hart to his understudy. Caballero, who came on against Juventus in the closing stages and could play on Saturday, is yet to fill anyone with confidence since his move from Malaga in 2013. It would be a concern if he was to be relied upon for any length of time.

CRISTINA QUICLER/Getty Images

With City in need of a win on Saturday after three games without one, and with a League Cup quarter-final with Hull City also imminent, Hart’s fitness is of vital importance.

City are set to be without Vincent Kompany for another two weeks, while David Silva is yet to return from his ankle problem. They are suffering injuries to key players at an important time in the season.

It's certainly a concern, and City perhaps need to analyse their medical staff if they want to solve the issue.

But Hart underlined his importance again in Turin and deserves huge praise for his performances this season. 

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.