David Silva lining for Manchester City

Playmaker David Silva could return for title favourites Manchester City’s crucial Premier League trip to Everton on Saturday.

The Spaniard missed last weekend's win at Crystal Palace after being carried off on a stretcher with an ankle injury in the previous game against West Brom. The 28-year-old has now recovered and his availability gives City a lift ahead of the final week of the season.

“David is a very important player for us. He will be in the squad list,” Manager Manuel Pellegrini said today. “The only player we have injured is Jesus Navas. All the rest of the squad are fit.”

Winger Navas has missed the last three games with an ankle injury.

City, in third, trail leaders Liverpool by three points but still have three games to play as opposed to their rivals’ two - and also have a superior goal difference.

They play the first of them at Goodison Park this weekend before concluding their campaign with home matches against Aston Villa and West Ham.

Pellegrini expects Everton, who still have an outside chance of qualifying for the Champions League, to provide tough opposition. City also have a poor record against the Toffees, having won just five of the last 19 meetings between the sides and lost on their last four trips to Goodison.

“I think Everton at any stage of the season will always be a difficult team,” said the Chilean. “They play very well, Roberto (Martinez) 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 hand the title initiative to their fiercest rivals Liverpool - something their fans may not relish - but Pellegrini does not think that will affect the players’ mentality.

“The feeling outside will not decide the match. I think the Everton players will try to win the game.”

Pellegrini added that defender Matija Nastasic is back in full training after three months out with a knee injury but is not match-fit.