Injury boost

Roberto Mancini's options for tomorrow night's game against Bolton have been boosted by the return of fitness of Joleon Lescott and Roque Santa Cruz.

And there is more good news with Belgian international Vincent Kompany's thigh injury not as bad as first feared.

He trained yesterday and while still a doubt for the visit of Wanderers could well be back in contention for the FA Cup tie with Stoke on Saturday night.

England defender Lescott travelled to Hull at the weekend with the squad but was confined to a pre-match workout on the pitch before the match.

Ironically, he hasn’t featured since injuring his knee in the 3-3 draw with Bolton at the Reebok Stadium almost two months ago. Santa Cruz has missed the last five league and cup games thanks to a calf strain.

>>mcfc.co.uk

Whilst the result and performance at Hull was disappointing, I don't necessarily expect Roberto Mancini to make wholesale changes for the visit of Bolton tomorrow evening.

We know Craig Bellamy is ruled out, so Adam Johnson likely gets his first start as an enforced change. Two other changes I expect are Patrick Vieira to also make his first start, probably in place of Gareth Barry whilst at the back - and as impressive as Dedryck Boyata has been since being thrust into the starting line-up - Joleon Lescott or Vincent Kompany (if he makes a quick return to fitness) will come into the side alongside Kolo Toure at the back.