Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany will be subject to a late fitness test before Saturday’s game against Southampton as he makes a bid to return from injury.
The City captain has made a quicker-than-expected recovery after Roberto Mancini had originally ruled the Belgian out until after the FA Cup tie against Leeds United next weekend.
Kompany picked up the injury at Stoke toward the end of January and City have been in a pickle eve since with Kolo Toure away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
"We are optimistic. He trained with the team yesterday and two days ago with no problem but we won't decide until after the last training session," said Mancini.
The Italian coach also revealed that the Toure brothers would be included in the squad for the upcoming game against the Saints.
The pair are available once more after returning to England having seen their Ivory Coast side knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations.
"I am sorry they didn't win but I am happy because they are here," Mancini added. "Yaya is really important for us. We have missed him a lot in the last 20 days."