Joe has the heart of a lion — Hughes

MANCHESTER City manager Mark Hughes has backed rookie goalkeeper Joe Hart in the build-up to tomorrow’s visit to Fulham for a lunchtime Premier League showdown.

Amid speculation that City will splash out on a high-profile goalkeeper in next month’s transfer window, Hart has kept his focus to deliver a series of mature displays.

And Hart, who made important late saves in City’s UEFA Cup stalemate against Paris St Germain on Wednesday, will be keen to impress against a resurgent Fulham outfit.

Said Hughes: “Joe did very well against PSG. There were a couple of instances towards the end when he had to be strong and come to the fore for us and he did that.

“He’s an exceptionally gifted young goalkeeper. Irrespective of speculation about who is coming and who is going, as a player you just have to get on with playing well and being part of what we are doing and he is certainly doing that.”

City have managed only one win on their travels, an emphatic 3-0 success at Sunderland in August.

Since that victory, Hughes’ men have picked up only two points from a possible 18 on their travels, losing at Aston Villa, Wigan, Middlesbrough and Bolton, and drawing against Newcastle and Hull City.

Their away-day frailty is largely responsible for their current placing of 14th, only two points clear of the relegation places.

Fulham, on the other hand, have been rejuvenated since Roy Hodgson became manager last December.

The Cottagers performed an escape as dramatic as Athletic’s in the 1992/93 season.

When Fulham fell 2-0 behind at Eastlands in the third-last match of last season, they looked certain to be relegated.

But, inspired by two goals from Diomansy Kamara, they produced an incredible recovery in the last 20 minutes to win 3-2, Kamara’s match-winning strike coming in the second minute of stoppage time.

And, in a scenario reminiscent of Athletic’s exploits all those years ago, Fulham won their last three matches to stay up on goal difference ahead of Reading, who were relegated.

It has been a different story for Fulham this time round, the Cottagers currently occupying a top-half spot as Hodgson has maintained the momentum gathered at the end of last season.

Fulham return to Craven Cottage in fine spirits after drawing 0-0 at Liverpool and Aston Villa in their last two matches.

Indeed, Fulham have developed a mean streak defensively, conceding only 11 goals in 14 league games.

Hodgson’s concern has been at the opposite end where Fulham have found the net only 12 times.

That is surprising bearing in mind the club have brought in two proven marksmen in Andrew Johnson (Fulham) and Bobby Zamora (West Ham), who could eventually cost a combined total of £20million.