Manuel Pellegrini has enjoyed the twin boost of a new contract and
2014/15 Barclays Golden Boot winner Sergio Aguero returning to fitness
ahead of Manchester City's Barclays Premier League opener at West
Bromwich Albion.
On Friday, it was announced that Pellegrini, who guided City to the
2013/14 BPL title, had signed a new two-year deal running until the end
of the 2016-17 campaign.
The Chilean should be further boosted by the presence of Aguero taking his place in the City line-up.
Aguero scored 26 times in 33 Barclays Premier League appearances last
term but, along with attacking midfielders David Silva and Samir Nasri,
found himself struck down with a sickness bug this week.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Pellegrini confirmed that
Aguero and Silva have fully recovered, although doubts remain over
Nasri.
"Aguero is working at 100 per cent and so is Silva – Nasri is just returning," he said.
Pellegrini had been expected to hold back Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta,
Martin Demichelis and Fernandinho from the season opener following their
exploits in the Copa America, but last weekend's 4-2 friendly defeat to
Stuttgart appears to have forced a rethink.
Raheem Sterling could join Aguero and Silva in a fluid three-man
forward line, although the England attacker's fellow close-season
recruit Fabian Delph will miss out due to a hamstring injury.
On Sterling, Pellegrini added: "[He has been] very, very good.
"The media have been talking about the price, but he's an English
player, young, with quality, speed and technical ability. He will
improve every year playing with the likes of Yaya [Toure], Silva, Kun
[Aguero], they will help him."
Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry joined West Brom on loan on Friday to become Tony Pulis' fourth major close-season signing.
Fellow wideman James McClean could supply the ammunition to Rickie
Lambert, who ended a difficult spell with hometown club Liverpool and
will hope to form a formidable forward partnership with Saido Berahino,
Albion’s top scorer last season.
James Chester will remain in the BPL, having moved to The Hawthorns
from relegated Hull City, while fellow defenders Joleon Lescott and
Gareth McAuley (calf) are expected to shake off knocks to feature on
Monday.
Ben Foster remains on the sidelines with a cruciate knee ligament
injury, meaning Boaz Myhill is expected to start in goal for the hosts.
West Bromwich Albion (from): Myhill, Davidson, Dawson, Gamboa,
Lescott, McAuley, Olsson, Pocognoli, Chester, Brunt, Fletcher, Gardner,
McManaman, Morrison, Sessegnon, Yacob, Gnabry, McClean Anichebe,
Berahino, Ideye, Lambert, Nabi
Manchester City (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Denayer,
Demichelis, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangala, Sagna, Zabaleta, Fernandinho,
Fernando, Zuculini, Evans, Nasri, Navas, Silva, Toure, Sterling, Lopes,
Aguero, Bony, Iheanacho, Pozo
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