Starting berth for Balotelli

Roberto Mancini handed Mario Balotelli a prized Manchester City starting berth for this afternoon’s clash with Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium.

It meant former United striker Carlos Tevez could only make the bench against his old club, with David Silva recovered from a hamstring injury and both Gael Clichy and Matija Nastasic selected in defence.

Alex Ferguson had both Antonio Valencia and Tom Cleverley available to help supply some ammunition for Robin van Persie in his first Manchester derby.

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Clichy, Silva, Toure, Barry, Nasri, Aguero, Balotelli. Subs: Pantilimon, Maicon, Lescott, Dzeko, Javi Garcia, Toure, Tevez.

Man Utd: De Gea, Da Silva, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Young, Rooney, van Persie. Subs: Johnstone, Jones, Giggs, Smalling, Hernandez, Welbeck, Scholes.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)