Eriksson gives Samaras start against Norwich

Georgios Samaras was handed the chance to rebuild his shattered reputation after Sven-Goran Eriksson gave the Greek forward his first Manchester City start of the season.

The £6m striker was ridiculed by his own fans at the back end of Stuart Pearce’s reign and has not even been seen on the bench so far this campaign.

But Samaras was part of a City side showing nine changes from the team that drew at Fulham on Saturday for the Carling Cup third round clash with Norwich; Richard Dunne and Stephen Ireland the only men to keep their place against a team containing Blues old-boy Lee Croft.

Man City: Hart, Logan, Dunne, Onuoha, Ball, Jihai, Ireland, Gelson, Samaras, Geovanni, Bianchi.

Subs: Isaksson, Dabo, Evans, Williamson, Etuhu.

Norwich: Marshall, Otsemobor, Doherty, Murray, Lappin, Russell, Jarvis, Spillane, Croft, Cureton, Brown.

Subs: Gilks, Strihavka, Eagle, Cave-Brown, Martin.

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)