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Platt urges Dzeko to be patient

Edin Dzeko has scored a string of vital goals for Man City after coming off the bench © Getty Images

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Manchester City assistant manager David Platt has called on Edin Dzeko to accept that starting on the substitutes' bench for the Premier League champions is not a judgement on his importance to the club.

Dzeko scored an 88th-minute winner after coming on for City in their 2-1 fightback against Tottenham on Sunday, the third time the Bosnian has rescued points for Roberto Mancini's side after being brought on late in the game.

But while Dzeko hopes he has sent the City boss a message with his important late goals, Platt has urged the 26-year-old to be patient in his quest to secure a starting role up front.

"I think after the West Brom game when he came on and scored two goals and we won the game, I said then we can only pick 11 players and we put people on the substitutes' bench to come on," Platt said.

"That's the way that it's been at this football club, since I have been here anyway. It's the way that it is at everybody's football club.

"We've got a lot of players that would play in almost any Premier League team and we can only pick 11 of them. Edin's one of those players that can either start a game or be a substitute. He can either come off the bench or not come off the bench.

"We felt that we needed an injection, just a bit more height to maybe get a platform and hold the ball up, but we also know that he's a goal threat and he's fresh and he's scored lots of goals this season and since he's been here as well for the last 18 months when he came here in January.

"He's got some heavy goals is what I said after West Brom and I will continue to say it. He's a valued member of our squad of which we rotate but, as I say, we can only put 11 on the pitch."

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