Pellegrini Gives Injury Update and Discusses Iheanacho Situation

Both Fernandinho and Eliaquim Mangala will miss Saturday's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace according to Blues Manager Manuel Pellegrini. The duo join Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony and youngster Patrick Roberts who has been linked with a loan move away from City this month on the injury list.

Pellegrini said:

"The injuries are exactly the same as the last game, we are without Fernandinho, Mangala, Bony, Vincent, Nasri, Patrick Roberts," the City boss said.

"Probably one or two of the players will be fit next week.

Nasri is out long-term while Bony's absence has created lots of chatter as Pellegrini has been unwilling to start Kelechi Iheanacho in league games, and strangely with the Blues chasing a goal late on versus Everton on Wednesday the 19 year-old who already has two match winning goals in league play this season (including one at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace in September) was not thrown on even though City had two substitutions remaining.

"Kelechi is in the squad list - we'll see tomorrow the starting XI. He's a young player who is working every day with the team. When young players have the option to play games they have to take their chances and every time Kelechi has done that and played very well.

"It's important for him to work every day with important players. I especially think he will be an important player."

That answer is unlikely to satisfy most of the Blues support, who have grown impatient with the seemingly managed minutes the young Nigerian starlet is receiving. Iheanacho has averaged a goal every 61 minutes he's on the pitch, the best strike rate for City first-teamers this season.