Manchester City are still some way from being able to predict whether their captain Carlos Tevez will be available for selection for their FA Cup final on May 14th. The Argentinean striker suffered a hamstring injury last month and will face a real race against time to recover in time to lead his team out at Wembley for the season's showpiece final. City managed to come through their semi-final against bitter rivals Manchester United without their influential front-man, but Roberto Mancini will be desperate to have the 22-goal man back for the match against potential banana-skin side Stoke. Anyone following the football odds will know what a boost his return would be.
Tevez's decision to travel to Italy to seek treatment from the Argentinean team doctor, rather than stay at Eastlands, has not only drawn criticism from City fans but also added fuel to the rumours of a summer move to Inter Milan. While Mancini has insisted he hasn't any problem with Tevez's decision, the Italian has made it clear to the striker and fellow absentee Jerome Boateng, that they will need to be back available for the league game against Spurs on May 10th if they are going to be considered for selection for the final. Anyone following the FA Cup final betting should bear this in mind.
"He is doing well and I hope we can have him available for the final but Carlos and Jerome will both have to play one game before the final," he said.
If Tevez is indeed destined for Milan when this current season ends, then he'll be desperate to be involved in their one chance of silverware from the season. Tevez has once again been his side's most fruitful player in front of goal, and Mancini will be well aware that the other strikers at the club have hardly been banging them in this season. Stoke will most likely look to neutralise the City attack and having Tevez's creativity in the side could be a deciding factor.
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