Mancini says Tevez could feature against Chelsea

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said Wednesday controversial forward Carlos Tevez could make his first-team return in next week's Premier League match against Chelsea. The Argentina striker has not played senior football for City since Mancini accused him of refusing to warm-up during a Champions League loss away to Bayern Munich in September. The 28-year-old then spent more than three months in Argentina without City's permission before returning to north-west England after failing to secure a move during the January transfer window. Tevez though has since apologised to Mancini and has recently played two matches for the reserves. City don't have a league match until Chelsea visit Eastlands a week on Wednesday and Mancini, asked if Tevez could be available for that game, said: "We will see in the next week. It depends on Carlo. "If Carlo is okay then probably, but it depends on a lot of things," the Italian added. City's loss away to Swansea last weekend saw the longstanding leaders surrender top spot in the Premier League to local rivals Manchester United. And they could be as many as four points behind reigning champions United by the time they kick off against Chelsea. Mancini was speaking at a news conference Wednesday ahead of a Europa League last 16 second leg tie at home to Sporting Lisbon, against whom City must overturn a 1-0 deficit if they are to advance. Although Tevez trained with the senior squad Wednesday, he is not eligible to play in Thursday's match as he has not been registered for European competition. City's Gareth Barry is also set to miss the Porto match. The England midfielder, clearly unhappy at being substituted in the first half at Swansea, has been struggling with a back injury recently. He missed the game against Blackburn on February 25 but did recover in time to play for England four days later. "Gareth has had a problem with his back for 20 days. He can't run well," said Mancini. "When he went to the national team he had a problem. "On Sunday he didn't play well but I think that is because he had a problem. "We will see for him in the next days but probably he needs another two or three days' rest. "These players are not like robots, they need to rest. "Instead they go to the national team instead of resting for two or three days. "It is impossible for these players to play for 10 months every three days." City captain Vincent Kompany, a big influence at the back, is unlikely to return from a calf injury before the match at Stoke on March 24 while fellow defender Joleon Lescott could be on the bench against Porto after a calf problem of his own.