CITY midfielder Joey Barton misses the Barclays Premiership match at home to Blackburn through suspension.
And Nedum Onuoha and Hatem Trabelsi remain doubtful because of hamstring problems.
Sun Jihai (hamstring) and Dietmar Hamann (back) could come into contention after making their comeback from injury in the reserves in midweek as the Blues look to extend their unbeaten run to seven games.
Ahead of the game City manager Stuart Pearce is looking for Darius Vassell to kick on after he ended his goal drought.
Vassell, 26, scored the winner in the FA Cup victory against Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.
It was only his second of the campaign but Pearce believes there is much more to the player than just goals.
The City boss said: éHe is in it for that reason of course but he brings so much to the team.
éHe never gives defenders any time to rest on the ball. They know he will tackle you as hard as Micah Richards.
Sensational
éHe has strength and pace. The number of times he got in on goal the other night was sensational.
éDarius keeps doing that. The winner was a great goal. If it had not been for Mark Crossley he could have scored four.é
Pearce, though, is fully aware their scoring ratio is poor with 19 goals scored in 23 games. Vassell, Georgios Samaras and Bernado Corradi have all been frustrated in front of goal.
Daniel Sturridge, however, did his prospects of stepping up no harm in midweek when he scored a hat-trick in the reservesé victory against Bolton.
Pearce said: éThe beauty of this club is that no matter what age you are, everyone gets their chance if they are good enough.
éIf you string a run of form together and push the manager a little bit, you can be around the first team.é
Blackburn midfielder David Bentley is available again after suspension for the game.
New recruit David Dunn may have to wait for his chance as he builds up his fitness after returning to the club from Birmingham.
Paul Gallagher remains doubtful with a groin injury as Blackburn aim to bounce back following the defeat by Arsenal.
Manchester City (from): Weaver, Richards, Sun, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Onuoha, Trabelsi, Sinclair, Dabo, Hamann, Ireland, Vassell, Corradi, Isaksson, Samaras, Beasley, Johnson, Miller.
Blackburn Rovers (from): Friedel, Neill, Ooijer, Henchoz, Khizanishvili, Emerton, Bentley, Savage, Pedersen, Mokoena, Derbyshire, McCarthy, Tugay, Nonda, Brown, Todd, Gallagher, McEveley, Peter.
Last season: City 0 Blackburn 0
Key opponent: David Bentley - Gifted midfielder is capable of producing a goal out of nothing
Prediction: City 1Blackburn 1 - The two teams are evenly matched and unless City's strikers suddenly find form, a draw is on the cards
Agree with the prediction? Have your say.
You can get 5/1 on the match being drawn 1-1 with Betfred. For this and more odds, click here.
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This is insane why in gods name is Sturridge not even on the bench if he scored three goals against Bolton Reserves!
Think we need to be more adventurous at home and would like to see either Beasley or Miller replace Jordan as wing back. We could bring back Nedum to the back three and put Micah into the midfield or simply replace Barton with Michael Johnson. Also, Samaras should start upfront ahead of Corradi.
Watched the MCFC programme on the Manchester channel last night and it showed highlights of the City reseves 'thrashing' of Bolton 2nd string. I was impressed by Sturridge, he seems to have come on another level and must surely be knocking on the first team door in the next 12 months, Michael Johnson was class also. Another one who caught my eye was the French triallist Djamel Abdoun, he looks very young but seemed to be involved in everything good that the team did, he has good feet put in some great crosses and has an eye for a pass. I know it was only a few minutes highlights but it was very encouraging, anyone see the whole game?
you are talking thru yr backside pearce. The young players only get a chance when there is no one else available - else why did ireland only get in when the sloth was injured, why does miller never get a shout up front ahead of the dire corradi & the clueless samaras or on the left ahead of vassell, why does sturridge never make the bench? God help us if Sun is fit again. No barton or nedum tomorrow, so thats our unbeated run finished.
Editor - why would we be wanting to place bets with Betfred the red?
i would like to see three at the back again preferably onouha, dunne and distin. richards in place of onouha if not fit. if not richards, barton, ireland, dabo, beasley. (trabelsi or sinclair) vassell and samaras. subs: johnson, miller, issakson, sturridge, jordan. then i think we could scrape a win.
after those comments why is sturrdge not featuring then. surely he must be back to fitness if he is scoring goals and has deserved a chance in the first 11, he hasn't ever figured in the team yet and is the one player that everyone is crying out to see.
STURRIDGE IS 16! He scored 3 against RESERVES!
Lets put him on the bence but for god sake he needs to be blooded before a start.
People need to understand that the reserves are totally different from the real thing and throwing a 16 year old into a full blown premiership game against a tough, hard tackling defence like Blackburn is not the best idea. Pearce knows what he's doing - he brough Micah through and did it superbly - now give him time with Sturridge!
awwww barton is suspended for saturday! if everbody is fit then should be (3)nedum, dunne, distin, (5) beasley, dabo, ireland, richards, trabelsi, (2) samaras, vassell. subs: miller, issakson, sturridge, johnson, jordan
Have to re-arrange the midfield a bit cos JB is out but try and keep it much as it has been, keep it tight and hopefully nick a goal at the other end. Should be looking for three points really, but not much between these two sides and I would take a draw from this one.
I really hope Hamann isn't fit. I would hate to Ireland dropped, which is what I think would happen
andy - sturrige is actually 17, (neally 18 to be precise) the same age as swp and richards when they debued
I think 1-1 is a fair prediction here. I would be delighted with that - Blackburn are playing well at the moment and McCarthy is lethal. Fingers crossed nedum will be fit because if not, ive got a bad feeling sinclair will be right wing-back again (or even sun jihai!). I fully expect Jordan to be dropped, with beasley coming in. Corradi should also be out, with samaras in. SP always says if you play well you will stay in the team, so surely if you play bad you are out of it? (Well, you would think so anyway) Assuming nedum makes it, team should be: (3-5-2) Weaver, Distin, Dunne, Onuoha, Beasley, Ireland, Dabo, Johnson, Richards, Samaras, Vassell.
Samaras to replace Cardboardy and Johnson in for Barton. 2 - 1 to city......
Very good point Dave in Bury. I would never use Betfred, Vodaphone and I still have never owned an electrical product made by Sharp!
I won't even tax my car because it means i have to go within 5 a mile of the swamp! I never wear red!
Tough call this, but I think City will nick it in the end: 1-0. Dont think it will be an exciting match to be honest. 3 more points are needed. Midtableteams are still very close together.
Ive just seen on city's website that trabelsi will be fit for blackburn but nedum probably wont. Therefore i revise my team as follows: (3-5-2) weaver, distin, dunne, richards, beasley, ireland, dabo, johnson, trabelsi, samaras, vassell.
not got much hope for this one
Corradi to score the winner !
(why not ?) it's time for him to score and break that Jinx.
Come on you BLUES!
I see mark lawrenson has tipped us to get beat again is it just me but i get the feeling he does'nt like us very much
Not many want Sinclair in the team! Hope you are observing Mr Pearce.
Mark (Lawro) Lawrenson (BBC football website) has once again predicted a City defeat this time 2-1 at home to blackburn now theres a surprise! has he really got something against us? keep the good work up Lawro youv'e got it wrong with us over the last five or six games!
This match has got 0-0 written all over it.. 7 games unbeaten then!
time for Sturridge?