Balotelli blow for Mancini

MANCHESTER City boss Roberto Mancini has admitted he is seriously concerned about Mario Balotelli after the Italy striker was ruled out for four weeks with a knee injury.

Balotelli suffered the original injury during his debut against Timisoara in August.

The 20–year–old was forced to have an operation that kept him out for two months, though he was quickly sidelined again through suspension after collecting a red card at West Brom.

Balotelli has not been seen since scoring a hat–trick against Aston Villa on December 28.

City medical staff have advised Balotelli to rest for four weeks and then resume training, in the belief that will rectify the problem.

"I am worried because he can't play for another three or four weeks at an important moment for us," admitted the City chief.



MEANWHILE, new City striker Edin Dzeko is keen to set his troubled childhood to one side and concentrate on securing major honours for the club.

The 24-year-old, who joined the club from Wolfsburg for £27 million, spent his youth in war-torn Sarajevo.

"I don't speak too much about the past – what happened happened," he said.

"After everything, I was stronger. But pressure is normal in football and mostly I want to speak about the future."