Owen Hargreaves in action during the Carling Cup
Owen Hargreaves is ready to give City a Premier League boost when they take on Aston Villa next week.
The midfielder is expected to be included in Roberto Mancini’s squad for the Etihad Stadium clash, the first time he will have been involved for a league fixture.
The Blues organised a behind-closed-doors match for Hargreaves last month, and he played the full 90 minutes. And he marked his City debut with a stunning goal in the Carling Cup win over Birmingham.
During the international break, City plan to put on two more private games to help Hargreaves, who has not played a full competitive match for more than three years, get up to match fitness.
Hargreaves’ progress is being carefully monitored by England boss Fabio Capello with an eye to playing him in Euro 2012 if they qualify with a point in
Montenegro on Friday night.
City tactical coach David Platt said the 30-year-old is progressing very well.
“He’s in good shape,” said Platt. “When the boys get back from the international break, Owen should be there or thereabouts with his own full pre-season under him.”
The Blues’ injury problems in midfield are easing with Nigel de Jong expected to be fully fit after joining up with Holland, while James Milner is over his rib injury.
Meanwhile, Carlos Tevez was tight-lipped as he arrived in Buenos Aires for a break after being quizzed by City officials over his alleged refusal to play against Bayern Munich.
The Argentinian striker was spotted boarding an Air France flight to Paris on Monday night, hours after he was interviewed by the Blues.
A source close to the player claimed he was heading for a holiday in Europe, but that was a smokescreen as Tevez met his family in Paris and caught a connecting flight to Argentina.
The trip to Buenos Aires does not contravene the two-week suspension which the club imposed on him and Tevez has apparently given assurances that he will return to Manchester by October 13.
The midfielder is expected to be included in Roberto Mancini’s squad for the Etihad Stadium clash, the first time he will have been involved for a league fixture.
The Blues organised a behind-closed-doors match for Hargreaves last month, and he played the full 90 minutes. And he marked his City debut with a stunning goal in the Carling Cup win over Birmingham.
During the international break, City plan to put on two more private games to help Hargreaves, who has not played a full competitive match for more than three years, get up to match fitness.
Hargreaves’ progress is being carefully monitored by England boss Fabio Capello with an eye to playing him in Euro 2012 if they qualify with a point in
Montenegro on Friday night.
City tactical coach David Platt said the 30-year-old is progressing very well.
“He’s in good shape,” said Platt. “When the boys get back from the international break, Owen should be there or thereabouts with his own full pre-season under him.”
The Blues’ injury problems in midfield are easing with Nigel de Jong expected to be fully fit after joining up with Holland, while James Milner is over his rib injury.
Meanwhile, Carlos Tevez was tight-lipped as he arrived in Buenos Aires for a break after being quizzed by City officials over his alleged refusal to play against Bayern Munich.
The Argentinian striker was spotted boarding an Air France flight to Paris on Monday night, hours after he was interviewed by the Blues.
A source close to the player claimed he was heading for a holiday in Europe, but that was a smokescreen as Tevez met his family in Paris and caught a connecting flight to Argentina.
The trip to Buenos Aires does not contravene the two-week suspension which the club imposed on him and Tevez has apparently given assurances that he will return to Manchester by October 13.
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