MANCHESTER -- Joe Hart has been passed fit to return for Manchester City at Stoke on Saturday, but Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure have been ruled out.
City are waiting to see if Aguero will be available to face Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League on Tuesday after picking up an ankle injury, while Toure has been sidelined by a muscle problem.
But Hart, who has sat out the last two games after injuring his hamstring in the 1-0 Champions League defeat to Juventus, is able to take over from Willy Caballero at the Britannia Stadium.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini said in a news conference: "Joe worked yesterday and today without any problems so he is in the squad list. He can play."
Aguero came off in City's 3-1 win over Southampton with an injury and did not figure in Tuesday's 4-1 Capital One Cup victory over Hull.
"Sergio is recovering from his heel," Pellegrini added. "He has pain so it is not easy for him to work. Maybe for next weekend we will see. We will see if he can be fit for Tuesday."
Pellegrini is also without Toure, with the Chilean confirming he has a "muscle problem."
But two other midfielders have recovered in time to feature on Saturday -- Fernando missed the win over Hull with a knock, while Jesus Navas came off with an ankle problem.
But Pellegrini said: "Both are in the squad list and without a problem. The injuries are Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany, Samir Nasri, Patrick Roberts, Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure."
City will also be without the suspended Eliaquim Mangala, while Kompany remains out with a calf problem and Zabaleta has a knee injury.