Barton on way back for City

Joey Barton is set to return to the Manchester City squad for tomorrow’s trip to Aston Villa.

The fiery midfielder has missed City’s last four games with a knee injury but has trained for a week and is expect to be in the Blues line-up as Stuart Pearce’s men look to record their third win of the season over the midlands outfit.

Pearce will be forced into a defensive reshuffle as Ben Thatcher is a major doubt with a hamstring injury. Stephen Jordan (ankle), Nedum Onuoha and Andy Cole (both knee) are sidelined for the remainder of the campaign. Sun Jihai is available again after serving a four-match ban.

Provisional squad: James, Weaver, D Mills, Dunne, Sun, Distin, Thatcher, Sommeil, Richards, Croft, Sinclair, Barton, Reyna, Musampa, Riera, Vassell, Sibierski, Samaras, Wright-Phillips, Flood, M Mills.