mancityblues.com

Not too much to write about on this one, apart from the usual "we must avoid the banana skin" comment. If FC Timi score first it could be squeaky bum time, but this is the new City, isn't it? Anyway, Balotelli is still out, but could feature against Sunderland according to Mancini, and expect a few players to be rested for the weekend fixture after a high intensity Liverpool game. Will Shay feature in goal, I wonder? We could see a line-up something like this -

-------------------Hart (Given) ----------------
Zaba--------Kolo----------Boyata--------Lescott
---------Vieira-------------------De Jong-------
-----------------Barry--------------------------
SWP---------------------------------------Silva
----------------Adebayor-----------------------

Bench; Micah Kompany Cunningham Ibrahim Tevez Jo

If all is going to plan, I'd give Barry, Kolo and Lescott only 45-55 minutes or so in anticipation of the weekend, with Ibrahim, Kompany and Cunningham taking their places. I'm a bit concerned about FC Timi's penchant for snide thuggery, but hopefully we'll have a decent referee for this one, hence Tevez stays on the bench and Yaya and AJ have a rest. Milner is not available due to registration issues.
BLOOVIC