Carlos Tevez scored for Manchester City’s reserves last night- will he start for the first team this weekend?
Manchester City’s reserves, named officially as their ‘Elite Development Squad’ ran out 6-1 winners against Morecambe Reserves last night in the Lancashire Cup competition.
Carlos Tevez was among the goalscorers, as he was in his last reserve outing against Preston earlier this month. He scored one and created two others.
Fellow scorers were Reece Wabara, Omar Elabdellaoui, and 18-year-old Spaniard, Juan Angel Roman, who bagged a hat-trick.
The controversial Argentine played 71 minutes of the game, winning a penalty in the eight minute when he was fouled, also setting up Elabdellaoui for City’s fourth midway through the second half.
Tevez’ goal was a nice Mess-like chip over the goalkeeper when put through one-on-one in the first half.
He is rumoured to be in contention to start this weekend against Sunderland, and won’t have done himself any harm, showing again last night that he is getting back to full fitness.
Sergio Aguero is nursing a foot injury, while Edin Dzeko looked to be lacking sharpness against Stoke, fluffing a simple header.
Mario Balotelli should be in contention to start, a scorer in three of City’s last four home games. However his performance at home to Chelsea was criticised by Roberto Mancini, and his midweek exploits crashing a press conference in Italy shows he remains as unpredictable as ever.
Mancini is reported to be impressed with Tevez new attitude, even if it remains a short-term relationship aimed at securing City the title.
Turning out for the reserve team against Morecambe should be proof of that, for a player who spent his festive period in Argentina playing golf.
With their other strikers either injured or with question marks over them, City could do worse than use the weekend to give Tevez his first league start since his return.
Sunderland will be no pushovers, but are coming off the back of a tough midweek FA Cup loss, and City will expect and demand three points, to bring themselves level with leaders United, who travel to Blackburn on Monday.
City have a huge game away to Arsenal next weekend, and if Tevez is up to speed for that, he could be the inspiration City need to turn the tough game in their favour.
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image: © sdhansay
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