• Premier League

Pellegrini: No problems away from home

Manuel Pellegrini insists he has no worries about Manchester City's away performances as he prepares to welcome David Silva back to his squad.

Pellegrini's side have managed only two wins from seven Premier League away games this season, a record he is keen to improve at Southampton on Saturday.

Silva will not be involved as he continues his recovery from a calf injury, but could return for the Champions League match away to Bayern Munich on Tuesday. Without him, City managed a rare away league victory at West Brom on Wednesday, which kept them third in the table, six points behind leaders Arsenal.

That Pellegrini's men are still in touch at the top is almost entirely down to their 100 per cent home league record, with seven wins out of seven at the Etihad Stadium and only two goals conceded.

The manager, though, insists that his players do not suffer from the sporting version of travel sickness. He said: "Even before the West Brom game, I didn't think we had any problems away from home.

"Maybe you have a different explanation, but I am absolutely sure that we have no tactical problems in away matches. I am also sure that all of the squad has the confidence to continue playing the way we did before, and we are sure that we are going to start winning.

"We did that at West Brom. We must repeat that tomorrow at Southampton."

Silva and captain Vincent Kompany have been Pellegrini's major injury concerns in recent weeks. Kompany came through 90 minutes in the 3-2 win at West Brom after 10 games out with a thigh injury, and is set to play at Southampton. Silva has missed five games with a calf problem, but should be ready either for Bayern or for the Premier League home game against Arsenal a week on Saturday.

Pellegrini said: "Vincent is OK. We'll see if he can play two matches in four days, but he is OK.

"Vincent finished the last game without any problem, and we will wait a few more hours to see if his recovery is perfect. We will decide then, but I don't think it will be a great risk for him to play another game.

"The problem continues with David Silva, but maybe on Monday, he will also be ready. We'll see if he can play against Bayern. We'll look at the way he works tomorrow and on Sunday, and we will decide in the next week."

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