Manchester City v Stoke preview: David Silva set to return

Manchester City playmaker David Silva is back in contention for Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Stoke after missing the last two games with an ankle injury.

Boss Manuel Pellegrini may opt to give the Spaniard some playing time ahead of the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid on Tuesday night.

City's focus will be on Real in midweek, but they still have Manchester United breathing down their necks for a place in the top four.

Stoke, meanwhile, have shipped eight goals in their last two games against Liverpool and Tottenham, and boss Mark Hughes will be hoping to rally his side to halt their recent decline.

Team news

Full-backs Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna are also available again after back problems, meaning City virtually have a fully-fit squad as Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid draws closer.

Midfielder Samir Nasri - who is not registered to play in Europe - is the only notable absentee with a muscle problem.

Stoke winger Xherdan Shaqiri will sit out Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium due to a hamstring injury.

Shaqiri sustained the injury during Monday's 4-0 home loss to Tottenham and had to be substituted at half-time.

Veteran goalkeeper Shay Given came into the team for that game and is set to keep his place this weekend, while defender Erik Pieters will miss out again as he completes a two-match suspension.

Opta stats

Stoke City won this fixture last season after having lost their previous six Barclays Premier League trips to the Etihad without scoring a goal.

Sergio Aguero has scored five goals in five Premier League appearances against Stoke City.

Aguero has scored 14 goals in his last 13 Premier League matches for Manchester City and netted his 100th in the competition in their midweek 1-1 draw with Newcastle United.

Wilfried Bony has scored three goals in four Premier League games against the Potters.

Former Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has now managed exactly twice as many Premier League games for Stoke (110) than he did for the Citizens (55).

Mark Hughes was never on the losing side with Blackburn Rovers before joining Man City as coach (W4 D4). His record with Stoke is W2 L2 D1.

Manchester City have lost five of their 17 Premier League home games this season, including three of the last five. They lost only five in the previous 86 matches at the Etihad.

Pellegrini's side have kept just three clean sheets in their last 15 Premier League home matches.

Stoke have gone eight away Premier League games without a clean sheet on the road.

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Given has conceded 10 goals in his last two Premier League appearances, including four on his Stoke debut in the competition last Monday v Tottenham.

Merson's predictions

The problem with Man City is that you don't know which team is going to turn up. Will it be the one that won 3-0 at Chelsea or will it be the team that came off the pitch lucky to have earned a 1-1 draw with Newcastle? Stoke are on holiday and you cannot play football with flip-flops on!

They've done their hard work, though, they're safe and you can understand that, particularly when a few players will be at the Euros. I suspect Sergio Aguero will be rested as City will have one eye on the Champions League semi-final with Real Madrid, but I still expect them to win.

Paul predicts: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)

Betting

Manchester City are 1/3 with Sky Bet to claim maximum points in their pursuit of a top-four place against Stoke at the Etihad with the draw trading at 4/1. City remain 2/9 in the betting to finish in the Champions League places, while Stoke (17/2) will be desperate to make amends for their MNF hammering at the hands of Spurs and complete a league double over the Citizens.

The last five meetings at the Etihad have seen City win to nil on four occasions which is trading as an 11/10 chance this time. Sergio Aguero is 5/2 to net the opener with Mame Biram Diouf deemed the most likely first scorer for the Potters at 10/1.

See all the match odds, Price Boosts and tips from our Sky Sports pundit here.