This week Carlos Tevez returned to a Manchester City subs bench. No not the start of a Manchester United fan’s poor attempt of mockery against their rivals, but an actual occurrence.
In rather different circumstances to his controversial ‘last match’ in Munich last September when he was accused of refusing to warm-up, the Argentine has donned the City shirt once again – something fans of the club thought was about as unrealistic as British boxing duo David Haye and Dereck Chisora regaining their dignity following their brawl – which ironically also took place in the German capital.
However a lot has passed since that night and, after finally accepting his wrongdoing by apologising to his club, the striker played his first 45 minutes of football since his return to City on Tuesday in a behind closed doors match at their Carrington training ground.
Tevez managed a first-half run-out for the club’s elite development squad against Preston reserves and was withdrawn at the break with his side going on to lose 3-1.
However with boss Roberto Mancini accepting his apology, he admits the 28-year-old is still two or three weeks away from being fully fit and although he’s been given his own fitness regime, the South American has been reintegrated into the senior training sessions.
The timing of Tevez’s apology is absolutely crucial, the Eastland’s outfit remain top of the Premier League, although United are only two points behind and are ready to pounce on any slip up.
City also have Europa League commitments, however Tevez is unregistered for the remaining stages of that competition, so he’ll be used solely to aid the club’s search for their first league success since 1968.
Nevertheless if Tevez thinks he can walk into the side as easily as he walked out – he can think again.
City have scored seven goals in their last two matches, with strikers Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko all netting in the 3-0 win against Blackburn on Saturday to take their tally between them to 52 – a warning sign perhaps for Mr Tevez.
If one things for certain, it’s that the Argentine will be a fantastic squad player. How many other teams in the Premier League can boast having a fourth choice striker that’s netted 52 goals in 91 appearances for his club?
But perhaps a more important factor to consider is the impact his return will have on the other strikers at the club.
Already we’ve seen Aguero and Dzeko in particular raise their game over the last few matches and it might just be in the back of their minds that, if given the chance, Tevez will step up to the mark and help bring the title back to Eastlands instead of it going to his former side and bitter rivals United.
You could say it’s written in the stars. Well if it is City fans will be hoping the Blue moon will rise again.
Andy Maynard
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