Yaya Toure returns for Manchester City to start their Premier League match against Newcastle United this evening, with Wilfried Bony on the bench.
The champions won only one of the six games that the pair missed while leading the Ivory Coast to Africa Cup of Nations glory.
Manuel Pellegrini brings Toure straight back into the team in a midfield diamond, but £26m signing Bony, bought from Swansea City in January, will have to wait for his debut as Edin Dzeko partners Sergio Aguero up front.
Ex-Magpies midfielder James Milner and Fernando drop out of the team which thrashed Stoke City 4-1 last week.
John Carver is yet to lose since being appointed Newcastle boss until the end of the season and makes just one change to the side which drew with former manager Alan Pardew's Crystal Palace in their previous league outing.
Remy Cabella has a slight injury and so Vurnon Anita comes in to solidify the midfield. Papiss Cisse, who has the best minutes-to-goal ratio in the league this season, starts in attack and Ryan Taylor is back on the bench.
City can cut Chelsea's lead at the top of the table to five points with a victory at the Etihad Stadium.
Man City: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Mangala, Kolarov; Nasri, Fernandinho, Toure, Silva; Dzeko, Aguero
Subs: Caballero, Demichelis, Clichy, Lampard, Fernando, Navas, Bony
Newcastle: Krul; Janmaat, Coloccini, Williamson, Haidara; Sissoko, Anita, Colback; Perez, Cisse, Gouffran
Subs: Woodman, R.Taylor, Abeid, Obertan, Ameobi, Armstrong, Riviere
Follow Sports Mole's live text coverage of the match at Eastlands by clicking here.
Joe Fish
