Dunne injury keeps him out of play

Richard Dunne was a major absentee for Manchester City as Stuart Pearce began his first full season as Blues boss against West Brom at Eastlands.

Dunne had been expected to skipper City in the absence of Sylvain Distin but his foot injury had not healed to the extent the big Irishman had hoped, leaving Pearce with a defensive hole to fill.

With both first-choice centre-halves missing, Stephen Jordan was switched inside from left-back, while David Sommeil started his first Premiership game since January 2004.

The Baggies, who took four points off City last term, have rebuilt since their amazing last-day escape act, although on-loan keeper Chris Kirkland was Bryan Robson’s only debutant, with Diomansy Kamara and Steve Watson starting on the bench.

Man City: James, Sommeil, Thatcher, Mills, Jordan, Sinclair, Barton, Reyna, Musampa, Cole, Vassell. Subs: Sibierski, Onuoha, Jihai, Croft, Wright-Phillips.

West Brom: Kirkland, Albrechtsen, Gaardsoe, Clement, Robinson, Greening, Wallwork, Inamoto, Gera, Campbell, Kanu. Subs: Chaplow, Kamara, Watson, Earnshaw, Kuszczak.

Referee: C Foy (Merseyside)