De Jong back for City

Midfielder Nigel de Jong returns from a one-match suspension to face Stoke on St Stephen's Day – new manager Roberto Mancini’s first match in charge.

Mancini only took his first training session on Monday following Mark Hughes’ controversial sacking after Saturday’s victory over Sunderland and has had little time to fully assess the squad.

However, defenders Nedum Onuoha (calf) and Joleon Lescott (knee) are definitely out while striker Emmanuel Adebayor and winger Shaun Wright-Phillips (both ankle) and Micah Richards (knee) are all doubtful.

Provisional squad: Given, Taylor, Richards, Zabaleta, Toure, Sylvinho, Garrido, Kompany, De Jong Ireland, Barry, Robinho, Petrov, Wright-Phillips, Adebayor, Tevez, Santa Cruz, Weiss.