• Premier League

Mancini blasts Wilmots over Kompany

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has criticised Belgium coach Marc Wilmots for playing Vincent Kompany in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Macedonia.

Kompany, 26, played his first competitive game in two months as his country won 1-0 in Brussels to maintain their lead in Group A.

The City captain has not featured for his club since suffering a calf injury during the FA Cup fourth-round victory at Stoke on January 26.

Wilmots, however, called up the defender for international duty - and although he did not feature in the 2-0 win over Macedonia in Skopje last Friday, he played the full 90 minutes in Brussels.

Mancini reluctantly allowed Kompany to join the national squad, but made it clear that he did not expect him to play.

And the City manager will now have to check on the player's fitness to find out whether he is able to face Newcastle in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

"I don't know if Vinny is okay for us or not," Mancini said. "One week before the international break, he was not good to play for us. He didn't play for us for 60 days, and he went to play for Belgium.

"I did not agree with this. I think some national team managers should understand the situation. This player plays for the club. The club pay him a salary every month.

"I did not see Vinny yesterday. I will see him today."

Mancini added that striker Sergio Aguero could be available to make his comeback after missing three games with a knee injury.

He said: "Sergio is okay. I think he will be ready for Saturday."

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