Carlos Tevez could play for Manchester City for the first time in six months as a substitute in the English Premier League match against Chelsea on Wednesday.

The striker has not figured for City since refusing to take to the field as a substitute in September but has been training with the club for five weeks since returning from an unauthorised trip to his native Argentina.

City manager Roberto Mancini says “he is getting better but I don’t think Carlo can have more than 25-30 minutes. … Tomorrow we will decide.”

City needs to beat Chelsea to trim defending champion Manchester United’s four-point lead at the top of the Premier League.