Cast your mind back almost 12 years. Manchester City have just emerged from a takeover saga into their new era. Mark Hughes is still in the hot seat – the appointment of Roberto Mancini is a year away, and Pep Guardiola has only just been appointed at Barcelona.
September 2008, and the team are about to face Chelsea in the Premier League in the first match under the new regime. What did that first XI look like, though – before the cash really started getting splashed?
This was Hart’s first spell as City’s first-choice goalkeeper before being displaced by Shay Given’s arrival in January 2009.
He spent the next season bouncing around on loan, but incoming manager Mancini kept a close eye on his progress at Birmingham City and was reassured
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