Richards and Robinho winning fitness battle

[Mark (Blue Army)]

Micah Richards and Robinho should be available for Wednesday night's Carling Cup semi final.

Richards was substituted at half time of Saturday's win over Middlesbrough after picking up a groin problem, while the Brazilian did not travel to Teeside due to a knee injury collected in training late last week.

Speaking on Monday afternoon, Blues boss Roberto Mancini said, "I think that Micah will be available to play, he had a groin problem but it has not been too serious. Robinho is fine as well and has been back in training. De Jong is OK again after we took him off on Saturday with a calf problem."

"There is a good chance that I will play
Boyata again because I don't have a lot
of defenders at the moment. He could
have that chance because he played
very well at Middlesbrough."

Another not in the squad at the Riverside was Shaun Wright-Phillips, whose ankle niggle has kept him out of the side since the win over Sunderland. Mancini is keeping an open mind over the winger, as well as striker Roque Santa Cruz.

"We will see how Shaun is today for the first time, but it's possible that he will be available as well," he declared. "We are not certain on Roque, we will have to decide after taking a look at him today but we do not want to take a risk on him.

"Stephen Ireland is definitely out for the derby, and Nedum Onuoha is also unavailable."

The boss will play the waiting game over selection for Wednesday and take two more training sessions into account, although Saturday debutante Dedryck Boyata is very much in with a shout of facing United.

Mancini added, "I will only decide what my team will be on Tuesday after the final training session when I have seen the condition of the players, but there are not a lot to choose from.

"There is a good chance that I will play Boyata again because I don't have a lot of defenders at the moment. He could have that chance because he played very well at Middlesbrough, but I will have to wait and see until after training on Tuesday."

from mcfc.co.uk

[Mike J]

the boyata thing concerns me a bit. nothing against the lad, he did well on sat. but playing against the likes of rooney and berbatov is very different.

[Beeks]

the boyata thing concerns me a bit. nothing against the lad, he did well on sat. but playing against the likes of rooney and berbatov is very different.

Was just about to post the exact same thing...very worrying

[lets all have a disco]

the boyata thing concerns me a bit. nothing against the lad, he did well on sat. but playing against the likes of rooney and berbatov is very different.

Was just about to post the exact same thing...very worrying

Micah will be alright pal.

Mind games,sir,mind games.

[Beeks]

the boyata thing concerns me a bit. nothing against the lad, he did well on sat. but playing against the likes of rooney and berbatov is very different.

Was just about to post the exact same thing...very worrying

Micah will be alright pal.

Mind games,sir,mind games.

Boyota! :-)

[rick1894citizen]

It could make or break him but aslong as we have Micah, NDJ, SWP and Robi back in contention it doesn't really concern me as atleast he'll have a stronger team around him and hope that with the crowd being so up for it on wednesday that it'll give the lads a real boost and Dedryck's nerves will be sweet after giving that fat scouse twat a good whack ;o)

[13021J]

Having Richards, SWP and RSC in would make a real difference. Don't really want to see Tevez up front on his own, would like to see RSC holding it up and Tevez, SWP and Bellers raiding from slightly deeper positions.

[CityFanFromRome]

Talk about baptism of fire for Boyata if he really has to face United. But hey, I have faith in the lad, especially if the rest of the starting XI willm be stronger than on Sat.

[Ted Hughes]

Talk about batpism of fire for Boyata if he really has to face U***d. But hey, I have faith in the lad, especially if the rest of the starting XI willm be stronger than on Sat.

We'll just have to put plenty of goals in at the other end, which we're quite capable of doing.

[Beeks]

Talk about baptism of fire for Boyata if he really has to face U***d.

I think it's unfair on the lad to chuck him in the frying pan...he is bound to be intimidated by the likes of Berbaflop and shrek...just doesn't sit well with me blooding a youngster with one game under his belt against our fiercest rivals

[Douglas Higginbottom]

If we don't have 2 other centre halves he will play but otherwise he won't. It would be crazy to create a center half ( like Barry or somebody) if Richards isn't available but he will be.

[CityFanFromRome]

Talk about baptism of fire for Boyata if he really has to face U***d.

I think it's unfair on the lad to chuck him in the frying pan...he is bound to be intimidated by the likes of Berbaflop and shrek...just doesn't sit well with me blooding a youngster with one game under his belt against our fiercest rivals

I know, but we may not have another option, if Micah isn't fit on Weds, unless we play someone out of position there, like Barca did last year when they played Yaya Tourè as CB for a couple games, and like the rags did with Carrick recently.