Man City v Reading preview

Manchester City must bounce back from a tiring trip to Ukraine if they are to beat Reading in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.

City faced Dynamo Kiev in the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday and must overturn a 2-0 deficit at Eastlands next week if they are to keep alive their hopes of reaching the Dublin final.

The Blues are determined to end their 35-year trophy drought this season, with the Europa League and the FA Cup having emerged as their main targets.

So the midweek defeat puts even greater pressure on City to overcome Reading and reach their first FA Cup semi-final since 1981, when they went on to face Tottenham in the final and lost to Ricky Villa’s wonder goal in a memorable replay.

Brian McDermott’s men are clearly relishing the cup, though, as the Royals reached their first quarter-final for 83 years last season and they have repeated the feat this term, claiming the Premier League scalps of West Brom and Everton.

The Championship side travelled to Goodison Park in the last round with the quarter-final draw having already been made and stunned Everton to win 1-0 through captain Matt Mills, who made just two first-team appearances in a two-year spell with City.

Reading are also five points outside the Championship play-offs after Tuesday night’s 3-1 win at Ipswich, which took them six unbeaten in the league, so City must be wary of the Royals.

The midweek defeat was City’s first in seven games but a long season appears to be taking its toll on Roberto Mancini’s expensively-assembled squad.

Team news

Mario Balotelli is doubtful for City after suffering an allergic reaction to the type of grass used at Dynamo’s Valeriy Lobanovskiy Stadium.

The Italian striker was late out for the second half and struggled on for another 10 minutes before being replaced by Carlos Tevez.

The City skipper will be refreshed after Edin Dzeko surprisingly started instead but Tevez is set to come back into the starting line-up to partner Dzeko up front.

Fit-again Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong could also be back but James Milner is expected to be out with a hamstring injury.

Ivar Ingimarsson (groin) could return to Reading’s starting line-up after coming off the bench against Ipswich, with Zurab Khizanishvili potentially making way at centre-back.

With Andy Griffin and Shaun Cummings both struggling with injury, Brynjar Gunnarsson is set to continue at right-back.

Hal Robson-Kanua hopes to keep his place in midfeld ahead of Jobi McAnuff, who is doubtful with an ankle injury, while goalkeeper Adam Federici (knee) and Alex Pearce (thigh) are set to remain out.