Time right for Tevez return

On this evidence, it was easy to see why Roberto Mancini seems all of a sudden willing to see Carlos Tevez back in a Manchester City shirt.

Having spurned a glut of opportunities at Villa Park, it took defender Joleon Lescott’s intervention midway through the second half to separate City and an Aston Villa side now in the midst of their worst ever home run in the Premier League.

For all their intricate interplay, forwards David Silva, Adam Johnson and Sergio Aguero all wasted chances as City lacked the ruthless killer instinct you would expect of Premier League champions.