Balotelli in line for City return

Soccer: Manchester City could be boosted by the return of Mario Balotelli for Sunday’s Premier League encounter with Arsenal…

Soccer:Manchester City could be boosted by the return of Mario Balotelli for Sunday's Premier League encounter with Arsenal. The Italy international has been restricted to just 33 minutes action after suffering a knee injury during his debut against Timisoara in August.

However, after emerging unscathed from training, the former Inter Milan forward is likely to be on the bench for the Blues, who are looking to consolidate second spot.

Full-back Bacary Sagna will return to the Arsenal squad for Sunday’s match. Fit-again strikers Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott are agains included in the squad, but centre-half Laurent Koscielny (back), fellow defender Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) and goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (elbow) remain out, while midfielder Jack Wilshere starts a three-match ban.

Robin van Persie (ankle) and Aaron Ramsey (leg) are on course for a return next month.