Man City boss Mancini pleads patience for Silva to adapt

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini believes recent signing David Silva needs more time to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League.

Silva has made only one league start for the club and has found himself playing a bit-part role as a result of the impressive form of Adam Johnson and James Milner.

The 24-year-old came off the bench in last weekend's draw with Blackburn and Mancini is confident the tricky winger will come good at Eastlands once he has settled into life in England.

Mancini has blamed his international commitments with Spain as a reason for his slow start to life at City.

"The thing with Silva is that we have been able to work with him only a couple of days at a time since he arrived," said Mancini.

"He had just signed for us when he went off with his national team to play in Mexico [during the August international break]. Then he came back and very quickly was off again with the national team again, this time to play in Argentina - another long trip.

"I thought he did very well when he came on [against Blackburn] but I always said that he would need time because it is very different here than playing in Spain.

"The internationals are over now and I think it will be time for him to play in the team from the next game."

 
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