Mancini down to bare bones

MANCHESTER City boss Roberto Mancini could have only three fit defenders for Chelsea’s visit to Eastlands tomorrow.

The Italian may have to field an emergency left–back if Micah Richards fails to recover from injury.

Mancini is desperately short of defensive options and if Richards is ruled out by his hamstring injury, City will have only Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany and Kolo Toure as certain starters in their backline.

Chelsea will be without midfielder Frank Lampard, who is still recovering from hernia surgery.

Striker Salomon Kalou and midfielders Yossi Benayoun and Gael Kakuta also miss out.

Kakuta (back), Kalou (thigh) and Benayoun (calf) were all injured during Chelsea's 4–3 Carling Cup exit at the hands of Newcastle.




Meanwhile, Michael Owen is hoping to figure more often for Manchester United as the heavy schedule takes its toll.

The former England striker, who missed the final two months of last season due to a hamstring injury, netted twice in the second half of Wednesday's 5–2 Carling Cup win over Scunthorpe.

United visit Bolton on Sunday, with Owen (30) hoping he has done enough to convince United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to give him a run in the side.