• FA Cup

Tevez out for up to a month

Carlos Tevez has a hamstring injury © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Tevez hit and miss for FA Cup final
  
• News: City can be as successful as arch-rivals United - Mancini
  
• News: Derby atmosphere won't affect players - Neville
  
• Match report: Carroll on target as Liverpool cruise past City
  
• News: Tevez set to miss Wembley clash against United
  
• Profile: Carlos Tevez

Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez will miss this weekend's FA Cup semi-final against his former club Manchester United after being ruled out for three to four weeks with a hamstring injury.

Tevez limped off of City's 3-0 defeat to Liverpool on Monday after only 15 minutes and Mancini had initially said he expected Tevez to be out for a fortnight, but it now appears likely the forward will struggle to return before City's penultimate Premier League game against Stoke on May 14.

Although Mancini is confident his captain will be fit for City's run-in, he admitted it was a big blow to lose the club's top scorer for the Manchester grudge match at Wembley.

"Tevez is not available for Saturday," Mancini said. "I think he will recover in three or four weeks. It is a big problem but we can't take any risks."

"After this game we have another six games we hope that Carlo may be fit for the last two or three games and for the final."

Mancini is now encouraging Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko to seize the opportunity. Balotelli has shown signs of his quality since his summer move from Inter and has scored ten goals in all competitions, but he has also attracted criticism for his work-rate and off-field behaviour. Dzeko, meanwhile, has not yet scored a Premier League goal, although he has scored once in the FA Cup against Notts County and twice in the Europa League against Aris Salonika.

"I still have to decide what to do [in the semi-final], but both players know this is an important chance for them," Mancini said. "Every player knows this is an important moment for the club. If we win, we can go to a final, so every player will give 100%."

In defence, City will at least be boosted by the return of Micah Richards, who was back in training on Wednesday after suffering a hamstring injury last month.

"Micah Richards is available," Mancini said. "He trained two days ago and again yesterday. He will be okay."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.