Mancini considering bench spot for misbehaving Balotelli

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is threatening to leave Mario Balotelli out of his side’s crucial Barclays Premier League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Mancini appears to have lost patience with the controversial Italian striker in the wake of his Europa League red card against Dynamo Kiev last night and his starting place could go to Edin Dzeko.

Winger Adam Johnson made a quicker than expected return from an ankle injury to feature last night but is likely to remain on the bench as the Blues concentrate on trying to secure a Champions League spot.

Team (from): Hart, Taylor, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Boateng, Boyata, Kolarov, Zabaleta, Wright-Phillips, Barry, De Jong, Vieira, Milner Y Toure, A Johnson, M Johnson, Silva, Dzeko, Tevez, Balotelli, Jo.