Vincent Kompany could make Belgium return

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany could return to action in Belgium’s World Cup qualifier in Macedonia on Friday.

The defender has not played since suffering a calf injury in the FA Cup fourth-round win at Stoke on 26 January.

City manager Roberto Mancini has said on a number of occasions that the 26-year-old has been close to fitness only for his return to be put back. Mancini said last week he hoped Kompany would be able to face to Newcastle in their next Barclays Premier League game on 30 March.

In the meantime, Kompany has been summoned for international duty and is being assessed ahead of his country’s Group D double-header against Macedonia in Skopje, on Friday, and Brussels next Tuesday.

Belgium assistant coach Vidal Borkelmans told Sky Sports News: “Vincent is very important, he is captain of the team.

“We are quite happy he has been here. We will see. We will make about Wednesday a point whether he plays or not.

“He must listen to the body. He must say, ‘I am okay’ and then it is a decision of the coach what he does, yes or no.”

Kompany was on the scoresheet in Belgium’s last Group B outing last October, when they beat Scotland 2-0 in Brussels.