Injury delays Vieira debut

Patrick Vieira’s Manchester City debut may be delayed as he battles to overcome a calf injury in time to face Blackburn on Monday.

Vieira picked up the problem in his last game for Inter Milan against Chievo on Wednesday and will have treatment before manager Roberto Mancini can make a final decision.

Dedryk Boyata is set to continue in central defence, while Carlos Tevez, Craig Bellamy and Gareth Barry are all expected to return.

Team (from): Given, Taylor, Zabaleta, Richards, Sylvinho, Garrido, Trippier, Wright-Phillips, Kompany, Vieira, De Jong, Barry, Bellamy, Robinho, Benjani, Petrov, Weiss, Tevez, Santa Cruz, Vidal, Boyata, Tutte.