Thatcher set to return
28 Oct 2006 - 10:51:08
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- Thatcher set to return
Manchester City defender Ben Thatcher has won support from Citizens boss Stuart Pearce as he prepares for a return to action after an eight-game suspension.
The 30-year-old left-back has been sidelined since late August, having paid the price for an horrendous elbowing incident on Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes at Eastlands.
However, Pearce believes that Thatcher has been showing up well in training and could be handed a recall on Monday against Middlesbrough.
"I haven't seen what happened have any effect on Ben during training and I wouldn't expect it to do so in games either," Pearce said.
"We are pleased with the way he has coped during his suspension. He has trained every day and worked very hard, so it is good we finally have him available to play.
"There are many different facets to being a footballer. You need skill and ability, and you need aggression.
"But you need that from all your players, not just one individual."