Joe Hart to start Manchester City opener on bench?

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has reportedly been dropped to the bench for his side's Premier League fixture with Sunderland.

Earlier in the summer, the England stopper was linked with a switch to Everton after it was claimed that new boss Pep Guardiola was interested in a move for Barcelona stopper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and it appears that either of those transfers could still materialise before the end of the window.

According to The Express, Guardiola has decided to name Hart on the bench for Saturday's meeting with the Black Cats, instead preferring to select second-choice Willy Caballero.

If demoted to the sidelines, speculation surrounding Hart's future at the Etihad Stadium will only intensify in the coming weeks with the 29-year-old having made 346 appearances for the club since 2006.