• Premier League

Tevez could play for City next week - Mancini

ESPNsoccernet staff
February 12, 2012
Carlos Tevez could yet have a decisive say in the title race © PA Photos
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Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has suggested Carlos Tevez could soon make a sensational return to the club to aid their bid for the Premier League title.

Tevez has not played for the club since refusing to warm-up at Bayern Munich in the Champions League and has been AWOL for four months. It appeared that there was no chance Tevez could ever pull on a City shirt again.

The striker has regularly snubbed City's demands that he returns to England and ends his ongoing golfing holiday back home in Argentina.

Ten days ago City included Tevez in their Premier League squad for the second half of the season, and though that raised a few eyebrows, it was not a decision which cost any other player a squad number as the club did not fill their 25-man allocation.

However, Tevez has not been named in City's Europa League squad, ahead of their round-of-32 tie against holders FC Porto this coming week.

"Everyone knows Tevez is a top player and it probably would have been better for us if he'd been here," Mancini said. "Carlos can change a lot of games. If he comes back next week, maybe he can help us in the last three months.

"I don't know if he is in good condition or not. I don't think so because he hasn't played for four months. But Carlos recovers strength very quickly.

"Carlos knows the situation. If he comes back, we talk. Why not? I don't have a problem. We've played a lot of games with only one fit striker and against Everton in our last away game, we couldn't make any changes from the bench."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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