Manchester City boss Sven Goran Eriksson admits Rolando Bianchi is out of his squad due to form.

Bianchi has been linked with a return to Italy in January and Eriksson told City's website: "There's no injury and he's working extremely hard.

"The three strikers will soon give me the same problem as the goalkeepers. We saw George [against Birmingham] and he's been working very hard, getting better and better, stronger and stronger.

"Tactically, he's becoming more aware about what to do out there because it's a big difference to see him today and in July when I first saw him.

"Mpenza works hard, Bianchi works hard, so in this moment I'm not going to change the system just to make life easier for two strikers. One striker and Elano has been working very well, so I can't change that."