Manchester City's stocks up front are so good that Steven Jovetic can't get a look in

HOW good are City's stocks up front? It has a striker who cost more than Alvaro Negredo and Jesus Navas sitting on the pine.

BENEATH the avalanche of goals scored by Manchester City this season it has been largely forgotten that Manuel Pellegrini has another $22 million ace up his sleeve.

Stevan Jovetic cost more than Alvaro Negredo and Jesus Navas when he joined from Fiorentina last summer but the striker has struggled to make anything like the same impression as City's other new signings.

The Montenegro forward has made just one start in the Barclays Premier League and has not played at all since October due to a string of injuries.

However, having scored twice on his only 90-minute appearance for City against Wigan in the Capital One Cup in September, the 24-year-old is expected to return to the squad at Upton Park when Pellegrini's side look to complete the formalities of reaching Wembley in the same competition.

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The six goals scored in the first leg a fortnight ago have contributed to City's staggering total of 103 in all competitions this season. Jovetic has been little more than an observer until now, but he trained yesterday and was included in the squad that travelled down to London.

'It's an important chance for Stevan to come back but I don't think he'll be able to play from the beginning or play 90 minutes,' said Pellegrini.

'Of course he's frustrated.

He came here with the illusion of playing in the Premier League. He was a very important player in Italy for Fiorentina and I still believe he will be a very important player for us.

'It's very difficult to be happy when you're not playing and you have so many injuries, but he's conscious that he will be 100 per cent fit and demonstrate why he's here.

'He can really start playing often in the next three months and I think he can be the player we hoped he would be. I believe in the players and I believe in Jovetic.' Tonight, City's forgotten man may be given a chance to start repaying that faith.