MANCHESTER -- John Stones insists keeper Joe Hart has been working hard to earn his chance at Manchester City.
The England goalkeeper looks set to leave the Etihad Stadium after the club bought Barcelona keeper Claudio Bravo for £13.5m from Barcelona on Thursday.
Hart was left on the bench for City's three opening games of the season, with backup Willy Caballero preferred, although he started the Champions League playoff second leg against Steaua Bucharest on Wednesday.
But that 1-0 victory could be his final game for the club after he saluted all four sides of the ground in what appeared to be a farewell to fans. He could leave the club he has been with for 10 seasons before the transfer window closes on Aug. 31.
Stones says his teammate has handled the situation well and deserved his chance to play at the Etihad.
"Joe's the ultimate professional. It's good to see him play again," the defender told reporters. "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's nice that the fans appreciated that.
"[He's been] 100 percent [professional] -- everyone has. I wouldn't expect anything less from Joe, he's a top professional but also he's a top guy off the field as well."
Stones, meanwhile, has started all of City's four games since completing his £47.5m move from Everton and he is happy with how he settled in the side -- although he says he must keep up a high standard if he is to keep his place in the lineup.
"All I want to do is play football and that's what's happening," Stones said. "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, I'm enjoying playing, improving and learning every day.
" I suppose everything happens fast but I've settled in so quick and as a footballer everybody knows you're not going to get any time to settle in too quickly. You've got to take each day as it comes but I feel great, I'm enjoying my football and the boys have helped me do that."
Stones didn't start any of England's games at Euro 2016, but new national team boss Sam Allardyce has earmarked him as a key man in his new era, which starts with a World Cup qualifier against Slovakia on Sept. 4.
"That's great to hear, it's a new challenge for me and I'll repeat that I just want to keep improving my game and keep progressing as a person as well and I think it's important that you get games under your belt and play in the top competitions. I'm definitely enjoying myself," Stones added.