Joe Hart admits he finds it "hard to see the positives" of being rested and said he is relishing the challenge of fighting for his place.

The England goalkeeper was replaced by summer signing Willy Caballero for Manchester City's 4-2 win at Hull at the weekend, but is set to be recalled for tonight's visit of Roma in the Champions League group stage.

Hart said last week he was in the dark over a new contract with City - his current deal has just under two years left to run - but insists he wants to stay at the club for as long as he is welcome.

The 27-year-old was dropped last season after run of errors, but reclaimed his place, and conceded he found it difficult to see any positives from being rested.

Hart said: "It is hard for me to see it that way. I am sure when I retire from football I will see them, but right now I am not going to see them.

"Of course I want to play every game, that is my nature, my professionalism. I am not the manager, just a player. I live by the decisions of the manager.

"We have always had good goalkeepers, David James, [Andreas] Isaksson, Kasper [Schmeichel], [Costel] Pantilimon, it has always been a fight for me to keep my place and that will continue, but I have always had high standards that I will keep to, whether there is one goalkeeper or 20. I love the challenge."

The match at the Etihad will see Hart come up against his former England team-mate Ashley Cole, who moved from Chelsea to Italy in the summer. Micah Richards, another City and England team-mate has also moved to Serie A with Fiorentina, but Hart said he had no urge to leave.

"He seems to be loving it out there, but right now I am happy with what is going on at this club," he said. "We are fighting on all fronts. While I am welcome here, I am more than happy to stay here and see where that takes me."