Santa Cruz to miss semi-final with injury

Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz will miss Manchester City's delayed League Cup semi-final, first leg against bitter rivals Manchester United today after being ruled out for up to a month with a calf injury.

Santa Cruz hobbled off during City's 2-0 Premier League defeat at Everton on Saturday with a recurrence of the injury that sidelined him over Christmas.

Manager Roberto Mancini had some better news for the eagerly-anticipated clash with United at Eastlands though with midfielder Stephen Ireland expected to return from a hamstring injury that has kept him out for three weeks.

"It looks like a bad injury for Roque, it is to the same calf that was a problem around Christmas. It could be around one month, we don't know exactly when he'll be back yet. It does not require surgery, just treatment," Mancini said.

Mancini will resist the temptation to hand Patrick Vieira his first start for the club since joining from Inter with the Frenchman still bothered by a calf strain.

"It's better for us and for him if he can be ready to play in another week or 10 days," Mancini said.

City are also still without injured defenders Joleon Lescott and Wayne Bridge but Micah Richards is fit and relishing the chance to redeem himself against United after his lapse in concentration allowed United to win 4-3 in the Premier League at Old Trafford this season.