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Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko welcomes competition from Carlos Tevez

 

Andy Hampson
Monday 27 February 2012 11:20 GMT
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Edin Dzeko came off the bench and scored for City
Edin Dzeko came off the bench and scored for City (GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko does not feel the return of Carlos Tevez has put him under any extra pressure.

With Tevez now back in training following the closure of his dispute with the club, City are back to their full quota of four strikers for the first time in five months.

That is a factor that could prove crucial in the title run-in as City head into their final 12 games with a two-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

Yet the club's three leading strikers this season, Dzeko, Sergio Aguero and Mario Balotelli, all underlined their talents by scoring the goals in Saturday's routine 3-0 win over Blackburn.

Dzeko said: "It's not pressure, it's just that he can bring quality to the team.

"We are all one team trying to play together and it's good that we scored three because in the end goal difference could be the key."

Tevez is not yet back in contention to play as he is short of match-fitness after spending more than three months in Argentina without the club's permission.

But when he is ready, possibly some time in the next fortnight, competition for places will increase and Dzeko feels that could be a good thing.

The 25-year-old Bosnian said: "That is normal but it's good you have so many quality players around you, and that they are all getting better."

Dzeko's goal against Rovers was his 18th of the campaign, but only came after he was summoned from the bench to replace Balotelli.

It was the second successive Premier League game he had had to settle for a substitute's role but, despite frustration, he will not complain.

He said: "Of course (it is frustrating), when you have scored so many goals.

"Okay, sometimes you can play badly, but in the end it's the decision of the manager and I respect that.

"We won 3-0 so no-one has to say anything.

"My goals are talking for me, so I'm happy."

Dzeko has confidence City can go on to lift their first league crown since 1968, but is expecting a fierce battle with second-placed Manchester United.

He said: "When you see the players like Aguero, (David) Silva and Yaya (Toure) and the others, you think, 'Wow, we have to win this' and with these players we can do it, because they are amazing.

"It's still 12 games and we have to try to win every one, then we are surely on top.

"It won't be easy because United are just behind us, but we will see."

PA

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