Manuel Pellegrini lays down challenge to Jovetic

Man City v Hull: Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has admitted it was a tough decision to leave Stevan Jovetic out of his European squad and has challenged the Montenegro forward to prove himself in the Premier League.

Jovetic, 25, has been left out of the Champions League squad to accommodate new signing Wilfried Bony — due to Uefa financial fair play sanctions, City are restricted to naming 16 foreign players rather than 17.

Pellegrini said: “It is always difficult to take a player out of the list, but we have restrictions this year.