Source: Daily_Mail
Look who's in the running for a shock Manchester derby appearance...
D-Day approaches: Carlos Tevez is put through his paces as he eyes a surprise Old Trafford return[LNB]Carlos Tevez is making a dramatic late bid to be fit for Sunday's derby showdown with his old club Manchester United. [LNB]The Argentina striker had looked certain to miss out on the most eagerly awaited Manchester derby for years because of a knee injury, but he is desperate to play at Old Trafford following his acrimonious £25million summer exit from United to Manchester City.[LNB] City boss Mark Hughes is short of attacking options after the FA confirmed yesterday that Emmanuel Adebayor must serve a three-match ban for his clash with Arsenal's Robin van Persie in the Barclays Premier League last weekend. [LNB]The absence of Adebayor, along with fellow strikers Robinho and Roque Santa Cruz, has made Tevez more determined to face his former teammates this weekend, although City wonder if they should risk him. [LNB]Club sources say he has 'an outside chance', and Hughes may even keep him in reserve on the bench.[LNB] Even that would represent a remarkable comeback by a player whose chances of playing were written off after he twisted his right knee in Argentina's World Cup qualifying defeat by Brazil a fortnight ago. [LNB]Tevez arrived back in the country only this week after City's medical team agreed to allow him to stay behind in South America and receive treatment for the lower knee-ligament injury from Argentina doctors.[LNB] Yesterday he was given an extended workout at the club's Carrington training base and he was obviously running freely. He was also kicking a ball as he trained away from the rest of the squad. [LNB]City will wait to see if there is any reaction this morning but Tevez still has 48 hours to prove his fitness. [LNB] Unwanted: Tevez claims he was left frustrated by Sir Alex Ferguson[LNB]It was the striker's battling qualities that made him such a favourite among United fans who dearly wanted him to stay when his two-year loan expired. [LNB]But Tevez claimed he felt unwanted by manager Sir Alex Ferguson and the United board, and vented his frustration after scoring against City in last season's Old Trafford derby.[LNB] Now he would like nothing more than to prove Ferguson wrong in allowing him to leave as City bid to maintain their 100 per cent record. [LNB]Tevez has already come through one fitness battle since going to Eastlands, recovering from a heel injury he aggravated by slipping in the shower on the pre-season tour of South Africa.[LNB] Fight for fitness: Robinho is another Manchester City doubt with an ankle injury [LNB] But if City decide to hold him back this time, Hughes will be without £100m-worth of attacking talent for the short trip across Manchester. [LNB]With Robinho nursing an ankle injury and Santa Cruz yet to kick a ball in anger since arriving from Blackburn following knee surgery, the loss of Adebayor for three games is a big blow.[LNB] Adebayor's former Arsenal team-mate, Cesc Fabregas, claimed he was lucky to escape with only a nasty gash on his left leg as he revealed the evidence of a bad challenge from the City striker last week.[LNB] 'I think this is a red card,' said the Arsenal captain, pulling up his tracksuit bottoms to show a three-inch gash, plus other cuts, grazes and bruising on his lower leg caused by Adebayor's challenge.[LNB] Fabregas added: 'I was lucky my foot was in the air when it happened. I've no idea why he was like this. We always respected him. It's football and we don't think about him any more. He doesn't play for Arsenal and we just have to concentrate on our game.' [LNB] Manchester City are so cocky: United boss Sir Alex Ferguson tries to spark a derby row with Mark HughesThe Manchester derby: Four legends on United and City's great expectationThe Manchester derby: Four classics from 128 years of rivalry between City and UnitedNew boy Sylvinho inspired by Barcelona as star insists Manchester City can beat UnitedEvra: United will show City who are the kings of Manchester and I'll boo Tevez!MANCHESTER UNITED FC
