No surgery for Fowler

Manchester City striker Robbie Fowler is unlikely to need surgery to correct a back injury.

Fowler, 30, had a scan this week and it is thought the problem can be solved without the need for an operation.

City manager Stuart Pearce said: “Robbie has seen a specialist and he is of the opinion that he won't need surgery. It is a case of building him up and making sure he is pain-free when he does come back.

“The problem we had before and why we decided to drop him away from training, you could tell from his physical demeanour he just wasn’t right. The back was causing him a problem by doing what he was doing. The physios will look after him and bring him back hopefully fully fit.”

Striker Andy Cole has returned to training and could face Everton on Sunday after a three-week absence because of a hamstring strain.

However midfielder Joey Barton is doubtful with an ankle injury while defender Ben Thatcher is trying to shake off an ankle problem.

Provisional squad: James, De Vlieger, Mills, Onuoha, Distin, Dunne, Thatcher, Jordan, Sun Jihai, Croft, Barton, Reyna, Ireland, Musampa, Hussein, Sibierski, Cole, Vassell.