Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez is struggling to be fit for next Sunday's derby against former club Manchester United.

The Times says Tévez's attempt to prove a point to Sir Alex Ferguson may have to be put on hold with the Argentina striker facing a race to be fit for the derby match against Manchester United at Old Trafford a week on Sunday.

Tévez, who joined Manchester City for £25.5million in July after an acrimonious falling-out with the United manager, is desperate to play against his former club but is a doubt because of a knee injury.

The forward has been ruled out of City's Barclays Premier League game at home to Arsenal on Saturday after suffering the injury during Argentina's 3-1 World Cup qualifying defeat by Brazil at the weekend and will have intensive treatment when he returns to England this week in an effort to get him fit for the United match.