Tevez poised to make return to City squad

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini insists his team have not lost the initiative in the Barclays Premier League title race.

City, who had led the division since October, now trail Manchester United by four points at the top after being overhauled by their rivals this month.

Yet with a game in hand against Chelsea tonight – when Carlos Tevez could make his much-publicised return – and a derby clash with United on 30 April, Mancini has not lost any confidence.

The Italian said: “We will win the title, we will win. We will do everything to win the title. We need to think positive, always.

“Until now we have had a fantastic Premier League, we need to continue like this.

“It is better to stay on the top – always – but I said a month ago it could be that we will go into the second position. This can happen. We had difficult fixtures, different from United, but it has not changed. We have everything in our hands.

“There is one game difference – potentially we are one point behind.

“Maybe if we win the next two games we go two points up. We need to go our way, we can’t think about United.”

Nevertheless, City could be given a lift by the return of Tevez, who is set to be named on the bench for Chelsea’s visit to the Etihad Stadium this evening.

The 28-year-old has not played for six months, but has now been back in training for five weeks following the closure of his dispute with the club. “He is getting better but I don’t think Carlo can have more than 25-30 minutes,” added Mancini.

Elsewhere tonight, Arsenal head to Goodison Park to face Everton on the back of five straight Premier League wins which have catapulted them up into the top four.

Arsenal’s visit will see the return to Goodison of former fans’ favourite Mikel Arteta, who left for the Emirates in the summer after six and a half years at Everton.

Queens Park Rangers, sitting third from bottom, entertain Liverpool and are expected to welcome back playmaker Adel Taarabt, who missed QPR’s controversial defeat at Bolton ten days ago with a hamstring strain.

Tottenham are in action tonight for the first time since their match with Bolton on Saturday was abandoned after Patrice Muamba collapsed. Spurs take on Stoke City at White Hart Lane.