JOE HART believes Shay Given should be left to decide whether he quits Manchester City after being axed as first-choice goalkeeper.
Hart was controversially selected ahead of Republic of Ireland international Given for Saturday’s Premier League opener at Tottenham, intensifying speculation the latter will ask to leave the club.
The build-up to the game saw both men threaten to quit if they found themselves out of the side and Given must now decide whether to follow through.
There appears little chance of the 34-year-old Donegal man regaining the number one jersey in the near future after Hart fully justified his selection at White Hart Lane with a world-class man-of-the-match display.
Manager Roberto Mancini insisted afterwards he would fight to keep Given at the club.
But Hart, who also cemented his status as England number one in front of the watching Fabio Capello, reckons it is up to Given whether he jumps ship.
“Me and Shay both have the same opinions in the fact that we both want to be playing football,” said the 23-year-old.
“It’s not my business; it’s Shay’s business. He’s an experienced guy who’s been in football for years, so he’ll know what to do.”
Hart revealed he had spoken to Given after learning he had got the nod in goal yesterday.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the guy,” he added. “He’s an inspiration keeper-wise and as a person he’s great, someone I really look up to and someone I really respect. He’s been different class and I’m sure whether it’s here or whether it’s somewhere else, he’ll come again and show what a fine ’keeper he is.”
Meanwhile, Craig Bellamy has been banned from the club and effectively sacked as one of their players in a show of authority from Mancini.
Bellamy has been told he will not be welcome at City’s practice ground when the players resume training today and ordered to stay away until a deal has been arranged to find him a new club.
It follows clashes with Mancini and other senior employees over the past few days.
Bellamy has been outraged by the way City have marginalised him and has made his feelings clear to the manager and players. He was told to train with the reserves on Friday but his attitude was perceived to be so “disruptive” the club have told him he is no longer welcome.
An angry Bellamy has returned to Wales to be with his family and is expected to train with Cardiff City today.
Cardiff have contacted City to ascertain their position and are hoping to capitalise on Bellamy’s desire to play for his hometown club by persuading him to take a pay cut on a loan agreement.
However, reports of a deal being imminent are premature, with City turning down a request from the Championship club to pay part of Bellamy’s €117,000-a-week salary.
City would prefer to sell the 31-year-old but are reluctant to do business with Tottenham Hotspur, confirmed admirers of Bellamy, because they regard Harry Redknapp’s team as competitors for the Champions League places.
Celtic and Sunderland are interested while Mark Hughes, the former City manager, is trying to sign Bellamy for Fulham plus two more players from his previous club, Roque Santa Cruz and Given.
Several other clubs are understood not to be deterred by the rancorous split and Bellamy’s apparent inability to avoid confrontation.
Bellamy’s CV, including spells at Liverpool, Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers, has become synonymous with controversy and his eight months under Mancini have been rife with tension and mutual suspicion.
