ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE:MANCHESTER CITY expect Carlos Tevez to report for training next Monday morning, despite the club captain's desire to leave before the transfer window closes on August 31st.

Tevez came close to joining Corinthians, one of his former teams, this summer before the proposed €52 million deal collapsed due to a lack of finance.

Yet, the Argentinian, who has been on an extended break due to representing his country in the Copa America, also signalled this week that he is minded to return to Carrington and train professionally ahead of the start of the Premier League season in eight days’ time.

How relations are between Tevez and Roberto Mancini, the City manager, will become clearer over the coming days. Tevez was due back for training this morning, but Mancini extended his holiday by a few days.

Patience within the hierarchy at Eastlands is short with Tevez, particularly since he followed last autumn’s transfer request by again declaring he wanted to leave the club this summer and stating he would not return to Manchester.

Yet, Mancini appeared to welcome the competition the 27-year-old’s return could create as he will vie with Edin Dzeko, Mario Balotelli and Sergio Aguero, Tevez’s countryman and the club’s new record €41 million signing.

Mancini said: “When Carlos comes back to trainingwe will have four strikers fighting for the shirts. That’s good for us. When you are playing in four competitions, we need that competition, we need those players. Players fighting for the shirt is a good thing.”