Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini says Raheem Sterling is in his thoughts for their Champions League return-leg at Real Madrid.

Pellegrini hinted the ex-Liverpool man will be given the chance to show he is ready for Wednesday's return leg with a run-out at Southampton.

Pell said: “The problem is that when you arrive at this stage of the Champions League, I think it's very important to arrive at your best moment.

“It's important both as an individual player and as a team. It is difficult for Raheem to arrive at his best moment after one-and-a-half months out.

“Unfortunately for him, he wasn't 100 per cent before his injury."

Pellegrini believes a fully-fit Sterling, 21, could make a crucial difference for City, particularly with David Silva ruled out for at least two weeks.

He added: “He can give our team different options, depending on what he can do in his next game. Of course, we bought him because he was a player who can make a difference and also because we are not evaluating him for just one season.

“He is very young, he has a very important future, but of course big players can make the difference in these kind of games."