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Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany ready for trip to Wigan

Doubts over central defender alleviated

Andy Hampson
Tuesday 27 November 2012 12:36 GMT
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Vincent Kompany: The Manchester City captain defended his
team's start to the season
Vincent Kompany: The Manchester City captain defended his team's start to the season (Getty Images)

Manchester City have no concerns about captain Vincent Kompany featuring in their midweek Barclays Premier League trip to Wigan.

There were suggestions the defender could be rested after defying the knee injury suffered in last week's Champions League clash against Real Madrid to play 90 minutes at Chelsea on Sunday.

But the 26-year-old, who was outstanding as the champions drew 0-0 at Stamford Bridge, has not suffered any reaction that would prevent him playing again three days later.

City first-team coach David Platt said: "It's not a case of it being too much at all.

"Vinnie would have still been feeling the effects of the injury that he picked up last Wednesday in the game but he got through the game and got through it very well.

"There were no after effects, he iced it straight afterwards as a precaution.

"We don't really have any concerns for him tomorrow night."

Kompany is therefore set to continue in central defence alongside 19-year-old Matija Nastasic, who is presently blocking fit-again England centre-back Joleon Lescott's route back into the team.

Nastasic, signed from Fiorentina on August's transfer deadline day, has started City's last seven matches.

Lescott was out with a back injury for part of that sequence but has been available for the past three games.

Platt said: "That is testament to him (Nastasic). He has stepped in.

"The first couple of games he has had to get used to English football but he has done that very quickly.

"The really, really good performance - he has had several good ones, but the real one were it might have been a bit alien to him - was when we went down to West Ham.

"You knew the ball was coming in, they were hitting the diagonal balls towards Andy Carroll and I thought he acquitted himself exceptionally well.

"You get that a lot in the Premier League that you don't get in Serie A and it shows there is an old head on young shoulders to adapt to that."

Lescott did not even make the bench at Stamford Bridge with Kolo Toure preferred as back-up central defender but Platt does not think much should be read into that.

Platt said: "Joleon is fine. He will be available for selection like he was available for selection for a few games."

One defender not available is left-back Gael Clichy, who continues to be troubled by the ankle injury that has kept him out for the last two games.

It is also unlikely the Frenchman will be available to face Everton at the weekend.

Platt said: "Gael is progressing well, if not better, than we probably expected, but he won't be involved tomorrow.

"I don't think he will be on the training pitch even towards the end of this week so Saturday is out as well."

PA

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