Thatcher handed instant recall

Ben Thatcher was handed an instant recall to the Manchester City starting line-up by manager Stuart Pearce for tonight’s Premiership encounter with Middlesbrough.

Thatcher has only just completed the eight-match ban he received for his assault on Portsmouth’s Pedro Mendes but with City under fire following their four-goal hammering at Wigan last weekend, the former Wales defender was brought straight back into the fold.

In total, Pearce made five changes, also recalling Claudio Reyna, Sylvain Distin and Paul Dickov, while DaMarcus Beasley was handed his first start since joining on loan from PSV Eindhoven.