Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has said that his side could have been helped in the title race if Carlos Tevez had returned to action sooner.

The forward has struck four goals in his first two starts since re-joining the squad following his well-documented dispute.

City coped with his absence throughout his six-month exile, but a collective loss of form and crucial injuries saw City lose ground to Manchester United in the league, forcing Mancini to bring back the Argentine.

Asked about Tevez's absence, Mancini said: "Maybe there are some moments you have two strikers that maybe are not in form, but you have another two.

"This is the difference, it is clear - but we did everything in November and December to try to take Carlo here again.

"Without Carlos we scored a lot of goals, but it is normal if you have players like Carlos you can score more goals."

City face relegation-threatened Wolves tomorrow, with Tevez likely to be in the squad.