Samaras set for early return

Georgios Samaras is set for a surprise return on Sunday as Manchester City try to revive their flagging campaign against Middlesbrough.

It was anticipated Samaras would be out for at least another week with an ankle injury, but the £6m (€8.6m) Greek striker came through a training session yesterday and could now line up against Boro.

Trevor Sinclair and Antoine Sibierski should be fit, but Andy Cole and Nedum Onuoha (knee), Stephen Jordan and Joey Barton (ankle), plus Claudio Reyna (shoulder), are out. Skipper Sylvain Distin and Sun Jihai are both suspended.

Squad: James, Weaver, D Mills, Dunne, Thatcher, Sommeil, Richards, Croft, Sinclair, Ireland, Musampa, Vassell, Sibierski, Samaras, Wright-Phillips, Flood, M Mills, Miller, Grimes, Laird.