City sweat on Balotelli fitness

MANCHESTER City manager Roberto Mancini will monitor Mario Balotelli's fitness after the Italian striker suffered an allergic reaction during last night’s Europa League defeat by Dynamo Kiev.

Whether the £24million summer signing from Inter Milan will come into contention for the home FA Cup quarter–final with npower Championship side Reading on Sunday remains to be seen.

Nigel De Jong and James Milner are pushing for recalls.

Balotelli (20) was eventually replaced by Carlos Tevez in the 57th minute after being over a minute late coming out for the second half with City losing 2–0 in the last–16 first leg game.

Mancini said: "Mario had an allergy, I don't know what, his face was swollen, I don't know why.

"He wanted to play in the second half but he had this problem 10 seconds before coming out.

"I came out a minute before the players and I didn't see Mario. He then said he could play but his face was swollen."

It is understood the striker is allergic to certain types of grass.

Goals from former Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko and Oleh Gusev either side of half–time handed Dynamo a useful advantage.

Mancini is convinced they can keep their European campaign going and make the quarter–finals of the competition.

He said: "If the strikers improve and the defenders pay attention maybe we have a chance to go through.