Defensive duo back for Blues

Manchester City full-backs Micah Richards and Aleksandar Kolarov are back in contention for the New Year’s Day trip to Sunderland in the Barclays Premier League.

Right-back Richards was not risked in Monday's draw at West Brom after a calf problem while left-back Kolarov has missed six games with a groin injury.

The pair’s possible return means manager Roberto Mancini has a full-strength squad, aside from the absent Carlos Tevez, for the first of two games in just over two days.

Provisional squad: Hart, Richards, Zabaleta, Lescott, Kompany, K Toure, Savic, Kolarov, Clichy, Nasri, Milner, Y Toure, Barry, De Jong, Hargreaves, Silva, Johnson, Dzeko, Aguero, Balotelli, Pantilimon.