Friday 9 January 2015 17:39, UK
Manchester City stars Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and Edin Dzeko have been named in the squad to face Everton on Saturday.
Aguero, who has scored 19 goals in 21 games for City this season, has not played since the start of December when he limped off against Everton.
It is a welcome boost for City, who had thought Aguero's knee ligament injury would keep him out of action for longer.
Despite an unbeaten run of 11 Premier League games, manager Manuel Pellegrini has struggled up front over the festive period having operated with just one and at times no senior strikers.
Pellegrini is likely to be reluctant to rush back his strike-force having seen Dzeko withdraw from action ahead of the win at Leicester in December with a calf injury.
Kompany suffered a similar setback on his return during the same game at the King Power Stadium, leaving the pitch 13 minutes before the end after pulling the hamstring that prevented him from playing at Roma in their Champions League qualifier.
Their return to the squad coincides with the departure of Yaya Toure, who is off to the Africa Cup of Nations.
"He is a very important player," said Pellegrini. "We cannot say it doesn't matter that Yaya is not here.
"The same thing happens without Edin Dzeko, Sergio Aguero, David Silva, all the players that for different reasons could not be involved in the games. We have a squad that must play and work in the way we normally do."
City will face an Everton side looking to avoid a fifth straight Premier League defeat, although Romelu Lukaku's late goal to earn an FA Cup replay against West Ham in midweek was a very welcome boost to Roberto Martinez.
Pellegrini said: "Maybe it is a surprise because they are a very good team with good players. Last season they had a very good season.
"I think Roberto Martinez is a good manager with a lot of experience here in England but things happen. I am sure at the end of the season they will be in a very good place."
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