Pelle welcomes Nasri all-clear

MANCHESTER City forward Samir Nasri could be back in action by the weekend.

The France international’s progress after a knee injury lifts the club ahead of the first leg of their Champions League last–16 tie against Barcelona on Tuesday.

Nasri initially feared he could be out for up to eight weeks after being carried off on a stretcher in the game at Newcastle on January 12. But he featured in a session for the first time as City trained at the Etihad Stadium ahead of tonight’s home clash with Sunderland.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini said: “Nasri and Javi Garcia have started training with the squad, we will see in the rest of the week if they can be fit for Saturday.”

When asked specifically about whether Nasri could play against Barcelona, Pellegrini said: “We will see in the next few days, up until Saturday. There is a chance.”