Pep Guardiola hints at Joe Hart, Yaya Toure inclusion

Joe 'head and shoulders' Hart applauds supporters during the Champions League quarter-final between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City on April 6, 2016
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola suggests that out-of-favour duo Joe Hart and Yaya Toure could feature in the team for their Champions League playoff second leg.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said that out-of-favour duo Joe Hart and Yaya Toure "have a chance" to play against Steaua Bucuresti on Wednesday evening.

Neither of the high-profile pair have been involved yet this season, and speculation has grown that they could leave the club before the end of the transfer window next week.

However, Guardiola hinted that they could get their first appearances of the season as City look to reach the group stages of the Champions League, holding a 5-0 lead over the Romanian side at the halfway stage of the tie.

"I have an excellent relationship with Joe. He and Yaya Toure have a chance to play tomorrow. I have said many times that [Hart] is a player for us and I work with all the players that are here. It's easier to work with small squads. We have a huge squad right now and in the Premier League, there are more games and more physical games," he told reporters.

"It's difficult for me to leave players out. We've played tough games in the last week. I will make some rotations. We are so happy with 5-0 (advantage) but we have to take the opponent seriously and try to win the game.

"In football it's not done until it is done. Better than 5-0 is almost impossible. We have to take the opponent seriously and try to win the game."

City are thought to be closing in on the signing of Claudio Bravo from Barcelona, which could pave the way for Hart to leave the club.

Joe 'head and shoulders' Hart applauds supporters during the Champions League quarter-final between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City on April 6, 2016
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City4400114712
2Chelsea431094510
3Everton431072510
4Manchester UnitedMan Utd43017349
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs42207258
6Liverpool42119727
7Arsenal42118627
8Hull City42115327
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13Swansea CitySwansea411246-24
14Bournemouth411235-24
15Burnley411235-24
16Leicester CityLeicester411247-34
17West Ham UnitedWest Ham410359-43
18Southampton402236-32
19Sunderland401338-51
20Stoke CityStoke4013210-81