Penalty hero Joe Hart thinks City can build on Thursday’s dramatic win in Denmark and make real progress in this season’s UEFA Cup.

The 21-year-old keeper pulled off two marvellous saves in the penalty shoot-out that saw the Blues move into the first round proper at the expense of FC Midtjylland.

It was nerve-shredding stuff for everyone watching, but Joe was the calmest man in the SAS Arena as the spot-kick drama unfolded, as he reveals:

“I love them! I love watching them and being a part of them, it gives you a chance to be involved. It would be nice to bowl teams over, but when we had to work like we did over the two legs it’s pleasing.

“Those first 20 minutes of the first leg caused us all this hard work, but in the end we have showed what a good team we are. We’re a good bunch of lads, and that helped us win the game.

“I’m convinced I’m right when I choose the way to go, sometimes it will be the wrong way but in my head I’ve got to be right all the time, that’s the way you should be. They did get a couple of good ones, but you have to back yourself.

“It’s exciting, either team today would have done well in the UEFA Cup, luckily it’s us! We’ve taken that step forward, we need to get into the group stages and push on.”

The shoot-out took place in front of FC Midtjylland’s vociferous support, but the din did not faze Joe - in fact, he positively relished it.

He continues, “I love all of that! Their fans were brilliant, they had a conductor on a megaphone getting them going all the way through. It was very exciting to be involved in. Our fans were excellent too, we can’t thank them enough especially with the travelling they did to get to both the Faroes and Denmark.”

The news that Shaun Wright-Phillips has returned to City added to a great day for City, and of the transfer Joe added:

“We’re all excited, he’s a huge player for the fans as well as the squad. It shows that good things are happening here and I hope this carries on.”