Mpenza unlikely to start

Emile Mpenza may have to wait for his Manchester City debut.

The Belgian international striker has joined the Blues on a short-term contract, with manager Stuart Pearce hoping he can be the answer to his side’s goalscoring misery.

However, Mpenza’s lack of match sharpness means he may be on the bench at best for tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership visit of Wigan.

Paul Dickov is back after a broken toe but Darius Vassell (hamstring), Nedum Onuoha and Trevor Sinclair (both knee) are all out.

Team (from): Weaver, Isaksson, Richards, Sun, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Ball, Trabelsi, Barton, Dabo, Hamann, Ireland, Beasley, Miller, Samaras, Corradi, Dickov, Mpenza, Sturridge.