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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Wolverine GTR" data-source="post: 20593668" data-attributes="member: 158020">Stones praises Hart as 'ultimate professional' as Man City exit looms <img src="http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/GOAL_INTERNATIONAL/11/44/joe-hart-manchester-city-steaua-bucharest-champions-league_z7tbnjolmr0w1w5yeuz651tca.jpg?t=-1102926826&w=620&h=430" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> John Stones says that Joe Hart has been "the ultimate professional" as the goalkeeper faces up to the prospect of leaving Manchester City. Hart was handed the captain's armband by coach Pep Guardiola for City's Champions League play-off game against Steaua Bucharest on Wednesday, a gesture which many believe signals the end of the Englishman's time at the Etihad Stadium. Television footage appeared to show Hart on the verge of tears as the home crowd demonstrated their appreciation for his 10 years of service to the club with a number of chants, some of which implored Guardiola not to sell him. Claudio Bravo will be installed as No.1 after he completed his move from Barcelona on Thursday, however, and Hart appeared resigned to his fate during a televised post-match interview in which he insisted that he and Guardiola are "dealing with the situation like men". It is believed that the relationship between Hart and Guardiola has been strained since day one, with the Catalan having started his analysis of the City players long before he had severed ties with Bayern Munich and decided that a change in goal was necessary. Hart did allow himself a wry joke on Wednesday night - he claimed that "pigs do fly" when it was put to him that he completed 100 per cent of his passes against Steaua - but his club and international team-mate, Stones, insists that it has been business as usual behind the scenes despite the England keeper's standing in the dressing-room. "Yeah, definitely," Stones said after being asked if he was pleased for Hart. "Joe's the ultimate professional. It's good to see him play again. He's been working hard, as everyone has, and he deserved his chance to play. I've played with him a few times and it just seems to click; it was good to play with him again. It was nice. As I say, he's been working hard, he got his chance tonight and it's nice that the fans appreciated that." City first targeted Barca's Marc-Andre Ter Stegen back in April as Guardiola indicated his desire to bring in a new keeper and the Catalan has pointed out on a number of occasions in recent weeks that he does not believe that Hart currently has the ability to contribute to the Blues' build-up play. Willy Caballero had been given the nod for City's first three matches of the season before Wednesday's 1-0 victory - which Guardiola publicly puts down to his better use of the ball and the fact he joined pre-season training earlier than Hart - but it quickly became clear that Bravo will take over the gloves now that his £13.75 million move has been finalised. That has left Hart in no doubt that his days are numbered but Stones says that he has remained professional throughout."Oh, yeah, 100%, everyone has, from the boys, from him coming in working hard," the defender declared. "I wouldn’t expect anything less from Joe. He's a top, top professional but he's a top guy off the field as well." Stones has been thrown straight into the delicate situation surrounding Hart's future, having only joined from Everton a little over two weeks ago, but he insists that it has not affected his transition to life at a new club. "It's been normal, really, all I want to do is play football and that's what's happening," he added. "I'm trying hard to stay in the team and keep improving and keep winning games. Every footballer wants to win and be a winner [and] I'm enjoying playing, improving and learning every day."</blockquote>

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