Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini admits Owen Hargreaves has continued to struggle with his fitness this season.

Mancini would welcome the opportunity to select the former Manchester United man before the end of the current campaign, but he has been forced to concede that things have not worked out as planned for either party.

"We took a gamble on Owen because he was such a fantastic player," the City manager said.

"We thought we could try to get him fit in two or three months and then he would be able to play. But it hasn't worked out quite like that.

"When you have a player who hasn't played for two years and he starts to train every day there are small problems all the time. Problems in the knees or the hamstrings. So Owen hasn't been able to play when we have needed him.

"He may play again this season but he is not ready now. I hope eventually he will be able to play all the time. He deserves to, because he is a really nice guy."