Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta says the return of Carlos Tevez is a no-brainer.

Zabaleta admits Tevez could give the whole club a lift at a time when their season will be decided.

He said: "When Carlos came back, he started to work alone and really hard with a trainer. He has been working with us for two weeks and I can see he is in really good shape.

"All of us have this expectation about his return, after all that has happened with him. We are going to need Tevez, as we have not played well in our last games. We have even lost the top position.

"Carlos and Mancini must leave their differences aside and think only of the team.

"Roberto knows Carlos really well. They have talked and solved their problems."

And, in a warning to rivals United, Zabaleta said: "Tevez was an important player for Man City in the last two years. He will be important for us again."