Manchester City vs Sunderland team news: Joe Hart dropped to bench and Stefan Jovetic starts

Goalkeeper surprisingly omitted from starting XI

Joe Hart has been dropped to the Manchester City bench for the visit of Sunderland.

The goalkeeper was taken out of the side earlier in the season and made much noise about Manuel Pellegrini's decision at the time, saying it was “hard to see any positives”. That he appears to have been rested for this Premier League match seems only likely to irk the England No 1.

Willy Caballero comes in as his replacement.

LIVE: Manchester City vs Sunderland

Meanwhile Yaya Toure returns to the side having missed the 2-2 draw with Burnley on City's last outing. Fernando is suspended whilst Vincent Kompany is out.

Pellegrini has opted to start with a recognised striker for the match with Stefan Jovetic leading the line rather than a midfielder which has been the preferred option in recent games.

Sunderland midfielder Sebastian Larsson has managed to prove his fitness after picking up a knock in the draw with Aston Villa and starts the game at the Etihad.

Man City: Caballero, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Mangala, Clichy, Toure, Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Silva, Nasri, Jovetic

Subs: Sagna, Milner, Kolarov, Sinclair, Lampard, Boyata, Hart

Sunderland: Pantilimon, Vergini, O'Shea, Brown, Jones, Rodwell, Buckley, Larsson, Gomez, Johnson, Wickham.

Subs: Fletcher, Cabral, Altidore, Alvarez, Coates, Giaccherini, Mannone.