Keegan to give Dunne a City recall

Manchester City defender Richard Dunne looks set to win a recall for tomorrow’s Maine Road encounter with Barclaycard Premiership leaders Arsenal.

With Sylvain Distin suspended, Blues boss Kevin Keegan will be forced to change the defence which performed so creditably in their last outing against Manchester United a fortnight ago, with Dunne favourite to return to his preferred central berth.

Peter Schmeichel (calf) and Danny Tiatto (stomach) have already been ruled out - but Israeli midfielder Eyal Berkovic will play after winning his battle to recover from cramp.

Provisional squad: Nash, Weaver, Ellegaard, Sun Jihai, Howey, Wiekens, Sommeil, Dunne, Jensen, Wright-Phillips, Foe, Benarbia, Horlock, Berkovic, Anelka, Fowler, Goater, Belmadi.