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Mancini won't risk Kompany v Leeds

Vincent Kompany could be back to face Chelsea © PA Photos

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Manchester City will probably be without captain Vincent Kompany and Gareth Barry when they take on Leeds in the FA Cup on Sunday.

Manager Roberto Mancini said he will not take a risk with either the central defender or the midfielder against the Championship side, but believes both will be fit for the Premier League clash with Chelsea on February 24.

Kompany has been missing since sustaining a calf injury in the FA Cup Fourth Round win over Stoke on January 26 while Barry, who scored an own goal in Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Southampton, has picked up a knock.

But defender Matija Nastasic and striker Carlos Tevez, who missed the loss at St Mary's for personal reasons, are definitely available again. Mancini said: "We will try but I don't think we will have Gareth and we don't take any risks with Vinnie. We have recovered Matija and Carlos is back."

Tevez has only scored one goal in his last 11 games but Mancini added: "I hope he can score important goals in the last three months [of the season]. The problem we have had until now is that we scored less goals than last year."

Mancini hopes the FA Cup can provide City with a tonic after they slipped 12 points behind Manchester United in the title race. "This is another way to do better in the last three months [of the season]," he added. "It is possible to play in the final."

Mancini is expecting a tough tie against Leeds, who have beaten three Premier League clubs in the FA and Capital One Cups."It is clear that it will not be easy because they beat Tottenham [in the last round]. I don't think it is easy to play against Leeds. In the FA Cup, every game is difficult," he said.

The City boss has plenty of respect for his opposite number, Leeds manager Neil Warnock, saying: "Warnock is a top manager and he has great experience. I played against him last year with QPR, we had big problems when we won 3-2 in London. He knows football very well."

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