ROBERTO MANCINI BELIEVES his Manchester City team need four strikers if they are to be successful in the English Premier League title race.

And the Italian can now call upon the services of Carlos Tevez after the Argentina forward ended his self-imposed exile. Tevez returned to England last week and has issued an unreserved apology for his part in a falling out with the City manager in September.

And Mancini feels the former West Ham and Manchester United man can still play an important part in the final months of the season.

“I think Carlos knows the team very well,” Mancini said.  ”The team in the last six or seven months have played very well and is top of the Premier League.”

“We know Carlos very well, he is a top striker. If he is good, I think he can do a good job in the next two months. He has apologised, I do not have any problem.”

“Carlos can’t play in the Europa League but we will have four strikers for the Premier League and I think that will be good. If we go through in the Europa League it will be important to have four strikers.”

Tevez joins a strike force which already includes Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko. Aguero and Dzeko were both on the scoresheet as City beat Porto 4-0 in the Europa League round of 32 on Wednesday.

“Sergio is another top striker but he is still young and needs to improve,” Mancini said.  ”He has scored a lot of goals.”

“He has been important during the season but it is important now, and during the last two months, to have all the strikers available.”

“I am happy also for Edin, scoring another goal. If we have Carlos, Mario, Edin and Sergio on the top I think it will be good for the team.”

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