Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini was full of praise for goalkeeper Joe Hart following his side’s tightly contested 1-0 win over Crystal Palace this past Saturday.

Hart made a number of key saves and continued to play on after receiving a cut just below his eye following a collision with Cameron Jerome.

It had been a tough couple of months form Hart which saw him dropped from the starting XI following a couple of goalkeeping bloopers, but he has since re-established himself as the best number one at City.

Pellegrini was quick to praises his efforts following Saturday’s win and confirms that Hart will be able to play on New Year’s Day against Swansea despite the gash on his face.

“Joe Hart has a cut beneath his eye but it's not dangerous and he can play without risk,” said Pellegrini.

“Everyone knows why Joe Hart is the first choice goalkeeper here.

“He's played for two or three years at a very high (level of) performance; he can do it so we hope that he will continue in the same way.”

City come into the game in second place on the English Premier League log, only a point behind leaders Arsenal.

Speaking ahead of the match Pellegrini has expressed his happiness in the month of December and is looking forward to a prosperous New Year.

“It was a fantastic month for us: we played 10 games and we won nine and drew one,” added Pellegrini.

“In the Premier League we won six of the last seven so we have recovered points.

“Arsenal were six points ahead of us.

“It's very important to finish the year in this position.

“We would have liked to have been first, but we have recovered points.

“In the first six months we have prepared for all the competitions we have been in and now, in the second half, we try to win.”