Ireland recalled by City

Sven-Goran Eriksson has given Stephen Ireland the green light to return for Manchester City at Fulham after his much-publicised off-field problems.

Ireland was left out of last weekend’s win at Aston Villa following his bizarre withdrawal from the Republic of Ireland squad but has been welcomed back into the fold by Eriksson and could start at Craven Cottage.

Skipper Richard Dunne will resume his central defensive partnership with Micah Richards after completing a one-match ban, so Nedum Onuoha is likely to find himself among the substitutes.

Team (from): Schmeichel, Hart, Corluka, Onuoha, Sun, Dunne, Richards, Garrido, Ball, Fernandes, Geovanni, Hamann, Johnson, Ireland, Petrov, Elano, Mpenza, Bianchi, Vassell, Samaras.