Manchester City coach David Platt is confident Mario Balotelli will bounce back from his ban.

While it seems City are resigned to losing Balotelli in the short term, Platt is confident the player will still have a big part to play this season.

Platt said: "The impression I get is that we must focus on our games with the players at our disposal.

"If we were to appeal - we have already been there - I don't think we would win that appeal. It is against you to win it.

"The likelihood is we will be without Mario for the next four games.

"But there are more than four games to go.

"When he is available again we will utilise him to help achieve what we want to achieve this season."