Bianchi blow for City

Rolando Bianchi is out of Manchester City’s home encounter with Newcastle.

The £8.8m Italian striker aggravated a groin injury during Tuesday’s Carling Cup triumph over Norwich and is not due to return to training until next week.

Emile Mpenza should return as City’s lone forward, meaning Georgios Samaras will probably have to content himself with a place on the bench at best despite his match-winning efforts against the Canaries.

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