Santa Cruz set for return

From the MEN, ahead of tomorrow's Carling Cup tie against Fulham:

ROQUE Santa Cruz could make his long-awaited debut for City in the Carling Cup clash with Fulham.

The £17.5m striker has completed his rehab following a knee operation in April and now just needs games to regain full match fitness.

And his return can't come soon enough for Mark Hughes, who is without the suspended Emanuel Adebayor, while Craig Bellamy could also be hit with an FA ban after Sunday's explosive derby.

Robinho is also sidelined with injury.

How many changes we may see is unknown, but in the previous round at Crystal Palace Hughes fielded a full-strength side.

Given we are a few more games into the season now, I do suspect that those who have remained on the bench so far will get to see some playing time tomorrow evening.