Santa Cruz available for City, Ireland to be assessed

Roque Santa Cruz could make his Manchester City debut in Monday’s encounter with West Ham at Eastlands.

The Paraguay international has been consigned to the sidelines since his £17m summer move from Blackburn after a knee operation. However, he came through a reserve team encounter with Wrexham unscathed on Wednesday and should be on the bench for the Blues.

Michael Johnson played in the same game and is also available after abdominal trouble, while Stephen Ireland will be assessed by City’s medical staff after he was released from hospital yesterday morning after being admitted complaining of dizziness.

Team (from): Given, Taylor, Richards, Zabaleta, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, Sylvinho, Garrido, De Jong, Barry, Johnson, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Ball, Weiss, Vidal, Bellamy, Santa Cruz, Petrov, Tevez.