BARTON TO FACE NEWCASTLE
Midfielder Joey Barton has been included in Manchester CityÂ’s squad to face Newcastle United.
The former England Under-21 international had a transfer request rejected by Stuart Pearce on Monday and the Blues boss fully intends to select Barton against the Magpies.
"I see no reason why he should not be in the squad," said Pearce.
"We have always said we would make the right decisions for Manchester City, because the club is bigger than any individual.
"If Joey doesn't play against Newcastle, do I leave him out against Everton, Charlton and the games after that?"
Georgios Samaras, City’s new £6million striker, is set for a spot on the bench, although young defender Matthew Mills will probably miss out despite completing his move north from Southampton.
Nedum Onuoha is being sent for a scan on a minor knock, while Ben Thatcher (chest) is also missing.
Newcastle boss Graeme Souness will leave Michael Owen to decide when he feels ready to make his comeback from a broken foot.
The Scot hopes his striker may resume training within a fortnight, but accepts it could still be up to eight weeks before he is fit again.
Souness reported Owen - who had his protective boot removed on Monday - will be the man who dictates when he is ready.
“He had his boot off and he was having another scan, and then it’s just a case of stepping up his training,” said Souness.
“But we have not put a time on it, because the best one to decide that would be Michael on how his foot feels.
“The recovery period is still, I think, anywhere between six and 12 weeks - six weeks would mean he is ready in a fortnight. But 12 weeks would be a long, long time away. I don’t want to think about that.”
Owen, 26, suffered the injury during the 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on December 31.
Souness saw Scott Parker, Emre and Shola Ameobi return to action in SaturdayÂ’s 2-0 FA Cup fourth-round victory at Cheltenham.
The chronic injury list finally seems to be improving, although freezing temperatures in the north-east this week have hampered his efforts to get midfielder Kieron Dyer back fit.
The 27-year-old was back in training on Monday after managing just three appearances this season because of hamstring and health problems.
Frozen training pitches having limited the work he has been able to do but Dyer could return to the bench against Portsmouth on Saturday.
“This weather has hurt Kieron a wee bit. We hoped he was going to have a really hard week of training this week - but with the pitches frozen, that’s been limited somewhat,” said Souness.
“We are hoping Kieron can be on the bench against Portsmouth. But a lot can happen between now and Saturday - I’m sitting here with everything crossed.”
The Magpies head to the City of Manchester Stadium looking for a first Barclays Premiership victory in six attempts and knowing that City, who lost 1-0 at St JamesÂ’ Park in September to OwenÂ’s lone strike, will provide stern opposition.
Goalkeeper Shay Given is in line to make the 300th league appearance of his career at City, all but 24 of them for the Magpies.
But Stephen Carr (hernia), Steven Taylor (shoulder), Craig Moore (hamstring) and Lee Bowyer (illness) are all missing, while Amady Faye is away with Senegal at the African Nations Cup.
Manchester City (from): James, Weaver, Sun, Dunne, Distin, Mills, Richards, Jordan, Sinclair, Ireland, Barton, Musampa, Croft, Riera, Sibierski, Cole, Vassell, Wright-Phillips, Samaras.
Newcastle United (from): Given; Harper, Ramage, Babayaro, Elliott, Bramble, Boumsong, Parker, Silano, Ameobi, Emre, Clark, N'Zogbia, Brittain, Shearer, Luque, Chopra.
