• Carling Cup

Ade in the frame to face United

Emmanuel Adebayor is due to return to England on Sunday © Getty Images

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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini claims Emmanuel Adebayor could return to the club in time to face Manchester United in the Carling Cup semi-final, second leg at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

The former Arsenal striker has been on leave in Togo following the machine-gun attack on the national team coach which left three people dead before the start of the African Nations Cup.

City hold a 2-1 lead over United from the first leg of the semi-final at Eastlands and Mancini said: "We think he [Adebayor] will be back on Sunday. It will be difficult for him to be ready for United but if he is okay after he gets back and he trains well, it's possible he will be on the bench."

Mancini intends to freshen up his side ahead of this weekend's FA Cup clash with Scunthorpe, with United in midweek and the prospect of a Wembley appearance in mind.

He is planning to give striker Carlos Tevez a rest as well as either Nigel de Jong or Gareth Barry in midfield, with Stephen Ireland poised to return. "I have three or four players who are very tired," said the Italian. "Gareth and Nigel have played a lot recently, so we'll recall Stephen but probably not for the whole game."

Mancini has told his side to be on their guard against the Championship side. He hopes his team do not go the way of Manchester United and Liverpool, who lost to lower-league teams in the last round. He said: "I know City beat Scunthorpe in the Carling Cup but we need to have the right mentality.

"It will be difficult on a small pitch and they will be strong. I have seen Scunthorpe on video. "The FA Cup is important to us and we want to progress. We must remember what happened to Liverpool against Reading and Manchester United against Leeds."

Meanwhile, Mancini says Joleon Lescott could return against Hull on February 6 following a knee operation. The former Everton defender has yet to play under the Italian, who added: "Lescott is a good player with a lot of experience. He is an important member of the squad and it is possible he could play against Hull."

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