Hart's city move is blocked

The Premier League have blocked Manchester City's hopes of getting on-loan keeper Joe Hart back from Birmingham for the final three games of the season.

Instead, Sunderland third-choice Marton Fulop will link up with the Eastlands outfit tomorrow and is in contention to make his debut in Saturday's clash with fifth-placed Villa.

City are adamant the Premier League were initially supportive of their plan to bring Hart back from St Andrew's once it became obvious Shay Given would not be fit after dislocating a shoulder at Arsenal on Saturday.

Certainly City were confident enough of their ground to approach Birmingham.

But they were then hit by a series of demands for compensation from Birmingham, ranging from Premier League prize-money to the possible effects of Hart's departure on ticket sales.

City were staggered at the claims given they made concessions to smooth Hart's season-long loan to Birmingham in the first place.

They then discovered the Premier League had, to their minds, performed a complete U-turn on earlier conversations, insisting Ha-rt could not leave.

* Defender Roger Johnson has been asked by the FA to explain his claim that referee Martin Atkinson was "a disgrace".

The club have been charged with failing to control their players following angry scenes near the end of their defeat by Villa sparked by Atkinson awarding a penalty against Johnson.