Alex McLeish accepts Joe Hart will return to Manchester City Football Club next summer.

The England international goalkeeper is enjoying a fine loan stint at Birmingham City this season, and has played a key role in their climb up the Premier League table.

McLeish would love to keep Hart at St Andrews on a permanent basis, but he accepts the 22-year-old will return to Eastlands in time for the 2010/11 season.

"City will take Joe Hart back at the end of the season,” he told The Guardian. "There is no chance of us signing him in January. We asked the question and they said that won't happen.”

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