Team News: Joe Hart starts for Manchester City against Steaua despite rumours of exit

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has given Joe Hart a starting spot for tonight's Champions League playoff second leg against Steaua Bucuresti, despite speculation over his future.

The England international's fate at the Etihad Stadium looks bleak given that Claudio Bravo is believed to be on the verge of joining the club from Barcelona.

In addition, Hart did not start City's first three games of the campaign as Guardiola preferred Wilfredo Caballero.

The North-West outfit can afford to leave the likes of Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling on the bench given that they have a 5-0 advantage from the first leg in Romania.

Including the goalkeeper switch, Guardiola has made eight changes to the team that played in the first leg, Pablo Maffeo and Gael Clichy coming into the defence.

Pablo Zabaleta and Nicolas Otamendi sit out, while Fernando, Yaya Toure, Fabian Delph and Jesus Navas come into the fold, replacing Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Sterling.

Kelechi Iheanacho will lead the attacking line instead of Aguero, who has been given a spot on the substitutes bench.

Manchester City: Hart; Maffeo, Stones, Kolarov, Clichy; Fernando, Toure; Delph, Nolito, Navas; Iheanacho Subs: Gunn, Adarabioyo, Angelino, Fernandinho, Aguero, Sterling, Silva

Steaua Bucuresti: Cojocaru, Mitrea, Tamas, Hamroun, Tudorie, Muniru Sulley, Momčilović, Aganović, Popescu, Enache

Follow Sports Mole's live commentary of the match here.