Mancini claims City can compete

ROBERTO Mancini claims there is no reason why Manchester City's lack of Champions League experience should count against them if they qualify.

City are on course for a top–four finish in the Barclays Premier League this term — which will hand them the chance to take on Europe's elite.

It would be the club's first appearance in the Champions League, but Mancini does not see that necessarily being a problem for his star–studded squad.

The Italian is confident a decent run in the Europa League in the current campaign will set them up, and he also knows from his time as a player that newcomers can often spring surprises.

Ahead of tonight's Europa League last–32 second leg against Aris Salonika at Eastlands, City have been hit by the news that second-choice goalkeeper Shay Given could be out of action for three months with a shoulder injury.

Striker Mario Balotelli is fit to take on Aris — with whom City drew 0–0 in last week's first leg in Greece — while Shaun Wright-Phillips is in contention after a back problem.

Micah Richards has picked up an apparent calf injury so will not feature and James Milner (hamstring), Nigel de Jong and Adam Johnson (both ankle) remain in the treatment room.

Mancini has admitted he can’t be sure how long Carlos Tevez might stay with the club.

Reports yesterday quoted Tevez's representative Kia Joorabchian as claiming the striker — who netted his 50th goal for City in Sunday's 5–0 FA Cup victory over Notts County — would be happy to rejoin Brazilian side Corinthians, a move he was confident he could seal for his client within the next couple of years.

Tevez's current deal with City runs until the summer of 2014