Robinho starts for City in derby

Manchester City and Manchester United recalled £63.25m-worth of striking talent as they went head-to-head for the first time this season in an eagerly-awaited derby at Eastlands.

Despite reports surfacing that Robinho had suffered a recurrence of his ankle injury, the Brazilian frontman was fit and started in the only change to Mark Hughes’ side from the one that defeated Schalke in Germany on Thursday.

Dimitar Berbatov was back for United after missing two games with a hamstring strain, with Brazilian full-back Rafael surprisingly selected ahead of John O’Shea at right-back.

Man City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Dunne, Garrido, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Hamann, Vassell, Robinho, Mwaruwari.

Subs: Schmeichel, Ball, Zabaleta, Elano, Jo, Ben-Haim, Sturridge.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Fletcher, Park, Rooney, Berbatov.

Subs: Foster, Anderson, Giggs, Nani, O’Shea, Evans, Tevez.

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)