Roberto Mancini asks Mario Balotelli to behave

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has told Mario Balotelli to behave himself as he returns from a four-match ban in the Europa League on Thursday.

The controversial striker was handed the suspension following an attempted stamp on Tottenham Hotspur's Scott Parker last month.

"I have spoken to Mario two weeks ago," Mancini told reporters. "I said, 'Please, we have 13 games to play [in the league] as well as the Europa League – try to have good behaviour on the pitch and think to only play football.

"I think if his head will be okay in the next two months, he will be an important player.

"It's difficult to find a good definition for him. We know that Mario is a fantastic player. He's young, sometimes he will do some mistakes but for this reason, if he can keep his composure for the next months, he will be an important player for us, in the Europa League and the Premier League."

City take on Porto in Portugal tomorrow evening.