Silva set for derby return
Manchester City playmaker David Silva could return for Sunday's derby against Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League.
Silva, midfielder James Milner ( bothamstring) and left-back Gael Clichy (ankle) are all hoping to prove their fitness while Yaya Toure returns to the team after his midweek European suspension.
Defender Aleksandar Kolarov (ankle) has been ruled out of the clash at the Etihad Stadium, leaving him on the sidelines with right-back Micah Richards (knee).
City boss Roberto Mancini has responded to Sir Alex Ferguson's penalty jibe by branding Ashley Young a diver.
When informed of Ferguson's declaration that if United had profited from as many penalties as City it would prompt questions in the House of Commons, Mancini recalled Young's antics last season.
The winger was condemned for the manner he went to ground to win spot-kicks against QPR and Aston Villa on successive weekends last April, with even Ferguson accepting Young was treading a fine line.
Mancini said: "I remember very well last year, when Young (gesturing) swimming in the...
"I think four or five times in the last 10 games, and then (Ferguson) didn't say anything, but this can happen."
It was the Italian's riposte to what he believed was a deliberate attempt at heightening tensions ahead of the derby.
"Probably," the Italian said. "Fergie is clever for this.
"I think in the last 15 years there have been some penalties for them. Not a lot, but two or three in the last 15 years."
Ferguson did seem to have referee Martin Atkinson in his line of fire with his initial comments - the basis for which was somewhat flimsy.
For, while City have been awarded 21 penalties since the start of the 2010-11 campaign - 20 at home - United have been given just as many.
Ferguson was either unaware of this, or ignored it, when he launched his stinging attack on the back of four City penalties in the Blues' last three home games.
"The number of penalty kicks they get - 21 in the last year or something like that," Ferguson said.
"If we got that number of penalty kicks there'd be an inquiry in the House of Commons. There'd be a protest."
Ferguson is waiting on the results of a scan on Tom Cleverley's calf injury before finalising his side.
Antonio Valencia (hip) and Nani (hamstring) are definitely out, while Ferguson does not think Shinji Kagawa and skipper Nemanja Vidic (both knee) will be available either.
Anderson is also a major doubt with a hamstring injury.
Source: PA
Source: PA