Manchester City hopeful of David Silva performance against Everton
MANCHESTER City manager Manuel Pellegrini is set to include David Silva for the title contenders Premier League match at Everton.
MANCHESTER City manager Manuel Pellegrini is set to include playmaker David Silva for the title contenders Premier League match at Everton on Saturday.
City may be third in the table, three points behind leaders Liverpool and two adrift of second-placed Chelsea but, significantly, Pellegrini’s men still have three league matches to play compared to their title rivals two and a superior goal difference.
Spain star Silva missed City’s win at Crystal Palace last weekend after being carried off on a stretcher with an ankle injury in the club’s previous match against West Brom.
But the 28-year-old has now recovered and could face an Everton side who still haven’t given up hope of overhauling Arsenal in the race for fourth place and a Champions League spot, although the Europa League looks the Merseysiders’ most likely target.
“David is a very important player for us. He will be in the squad list,” Pellegrini said Friday.
“The only player we have injured is Jesus Navas. All the rest of the squad are fit.”
Nava has missed City’s last three games with an ankle injury.
After their trip to Goodison Park, City conclude their season with home games against Aston Villa and West Ham.
But while those two fixtures at Eastlands look eminently ‘winnable’, City’s record against Everton suggests this weekend’s match could be a very different story.
City have won just five of their last 19 matches against the Toffees and have lost on their last four visits to Goodison.
“I think Everton at any stage of the season will always be a difficult team,” Pellegrini said.
“They play very well, Roberto (Martinez, the Everton manager) is doing a very good job there, the same way he did before at Wigan.
“He is playing for Champions League, Europa League.
“We don’t expect anything at Everton. We are sure we are going to have a very tough game there.”
Victory for Everton could give city rivals Liverpool a priceless advantage in the title race but Pellegrini said such thoughts would be far from the minds of Martinez’s men.
“The feeling outside will not decide the match. I think the Everton players will try to win the game,” he said.
The Chilean added City defender Matija Nastasic is back in full training after three months out with a knee injury but is not match-fit.
“Nastasic is working with the squad but he is not able to play in this moment. He is not injured any more,” Pellegrini explained.