Boss Mancini ends feud with Tevez

Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City manager, has drawn a line under his long-running dispute with Carlos Tevez and insisted the Argentina striker is now available for selection.

But Mancini, talking after his team reached the last 16 of the Europa League with an emphatic 4-0 victory over holders Porto, warned Tevez he faces a major obstacle in attempting to regain a regular place in his side.

This week, Tevez apologised for his behaviour during his refusal to play for the team over a dispute with Mancini which dates back to September, when he disobeyed his manager’s instruction to warm-up during a Champions League match at Bayern Munich.

The Italian boss expects Tevez to be available for selection in the middle of next month.

“He has apologised,” said Mancini.

“I don’t have any problem. I think he maybe needs two or three weeks to find form; after this he will be okay. He can play, like the other players,” he added with City two points clear of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League.

“Carlos knows the team very well and I think he can help us and do a good job in the next two months.

“I think it is important if we have Carlos, Mario (Balotelli), Edin (Dzeko) and Sergio (Aguero) so it would be good for the team.”

With Tevez still absent from the City line-up, his compatriot Aguero was the pick of the hosts’ stars at Eastlands on Wednesday, scoring the opening goal in just 19 seconds, then laying on a second for Dzeko before David Silva and David Pizarro completed the rout and a 6-1 aggregate win.