Quartet set for weekend return

Roberto Mancini has revealed the Blues are likely to receive a huge boost ahead of this Saturday’s Manchester derby with the likely return of four key squad members.

With City entering one of the most important periods in the club’s history, the manager admits it’s vital he has as many experienced players as possible at his disposal as the race for fourth spot hots up.

“We will have Pablo Zabaleta available again following his two-match ban and possiblyStephen Ireland, Patrick Vieira and Wayne Bridge, too which is very good news for us,” he revealed.

“I am very pleased they are back in training and we will see how things go this week, but we won’t be naming our team until Saturday morning, of course.

Tottenham’s win over Arsenal last night means Harry Redknapp’s men are now just one point behind the Blues with what is shaping up to be an epic encounter between the two Champions League hopefuls still to come.

With effectively five cup finals left to play, Mancini knows he will need as many options as possible available to him in the coming weeks.

“It is good that we are getting everybody fit at such a crucial time of the season with so many important matches to come,” he said.

“We know that it is vital that we have a good goal difference, too, because that could possibly decide who finishes in fourth place.

“We have been scoring a few goals in recent weeks, which is good and there is no reason we cannot continue to keep scoring if we continue to play in the manner we have been of late, not matter who we are playing.”