Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor has admitted that Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez is on "self-destruct" mode after committing a string of infringements.

The latest twist in the saga has resulted in the 27-year-old failing to report to training this week after jetting off to Argentina without permission from the club.

Taylor, who came to Tevez's defence in order to halve the striker's initial four-week fine, believes that the issue needs to be resolved as soon as possible.

"January is coming up soon, but before then I want it to be satisfactorily resolved," Taylor told Sky Sports News. "To be playing he needs to be fit and to be fit he needs to be training.

"I thought we were making some progress but it's gone backwards. I don't want him to leave the club. I don't want him to leave with a bad taste in the mouth with City supporters and the club.

"He's been too good a player for that. I think it's time now that changed and try to get his mindset changed to a better place. I'm worrying about him now because it's a self-destruct pattern."

The frontman is believed to be in contact with the North West club despite remaining in South America.