Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry has heaped praise on teammate Carlos Tevez, placing him in the same echelon as strike stars Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba.

The Argentine has netted on 15 occasions in the league this season and Barry was not short on superlatives for his teammate.

"Carlos has the potential to be in the Rooney and Drogba class. His goals this season, and the way he has sometimes led the line on his own, have been ¬brilliant," Barry said.

"He gives us such work-rate and a never-say-die spirit and his equaliser at Chelsea summed up his game.

"Carlos' work-rate also has the ability to get under ¬opponents' skin which saw Michael Ballack sent off."