Stoke City boss Mark Hughes is surprised by Joe Hart's demise at Manchester City.

Hughes, for whom Hart was a regular starter during his only full season at City, insists he never saw anything wrong with that aspect of the 29-year-old's game.

Speaking on the importance of a goalkeeper's distribution, Hughes said: "It's an important factor but you have to keep the ball out of the net as well. That's quite important when you're talking about the goalkeeper position.

"It's an aspect of modern football now. Ideally you would like a goalkeeper who's comfortable with the ball at their feet because they instigate attacking moves right from the beginning.

"We're fortunate in regard to ourselves that we've got one in terms of Jack (Butland), who's exceptionally good in that respect, and Shay (Given) is very good. We're well served in that respect.

"Just from having worked with Joe myself, I never thought that distribution was one of his weaknesses but it's all about opinions."

The outspoken Joey Barton had called the treatment of Hart from his old team "disgusting" earlier this week, though Hughes refrained from opining further on the matter.

"I don't really want to debate other people's situations at their club," he said.

"It's a situation that maybe has been ongoing not just for the last couple of weeks with the new season starting. It seems to me, looking from the outside, that the decision was made a long time ago.

"They've known for quite some time that Pep Guardiola is coming to the club so I'm sure they've had discussions on all aspects of their team moving forward."