Defensive pair out for City

Defenders Micah Richards and Jerome Boateng will both be missing as Manchester City resume their quest for a Champions League spot against Sunderland at Eastlands on Sunday.

Richards injured a hamstring on England Under-21 duty a week ago and is out for at least a fortnight, while Boateng faces six weeks on the sidelines once he has knee surgery in the next few days.

Pablo Zabaleta is available after returning from a mercy dash to Argentina to visit his ill father.

Team (from): Hart, Taylor, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, Boyata, Wright-Phillips, De Jong, Yaya Toure, Vieira, Barry, Silva, Milner, Adam Johnson, Dzeko, Balotelli, Tevez, Razak.