Manchester City's Pablo Zabaleta is confident club captain Carlos Tevez will return from his trip back to Argentina refreshed and ready for action.

Tevez was ruled out of City's trip to Wolves on Saturday with a thigh injury and the club gave him permission to return to Buenos Aires to visit his family.

Zabaleta thinks it is a great time for Tevez to get away from the game to freshen up for the Manchester derby next weekend.

"Tevez is a key man for us and we need him but we also understand why he has travelled back to Buenos Aires," he said.

"I have spoken to Carlos and he says he's not unhappy but he misses his family and even though he's a professional he also has many ties at home.

"It was a big disappointment for him to lose against Arsenal but we want to put that right and I hope he will be back for the Manchester derby.

"But he has all of our support and we will help him wherever possible."