Tevez awaits disciplinary hearing date this week

Carlos Tevez's disciplinary hearing will dominate a vital European week for Manchester City, with the player still unaware last night of when he will appear before the disciplinary panel which will rule on his alleged refusal to enter the field of play against Bayern Munich in the Champions League tie last month.

As of last night, Tevez's lawyers had not received the 24-hour notice which City's human resources department are obliged to provide when summoning the Argentine forward (pictured right) to answer the case of multiple breaches of contract which an internal City inquiry has established.

The player is said to be sanguine about Roberto Mancini's decision to insist he trains alone with the club's fitness coach – his view being that there is only so much he can do in such circumstances but that it is City's decision if they do not want him to retain match fitness.

Tevez had not expected to be called before the disciplinary panel until midweek and Wednesday seems to be the most likely day. The striker protests that he did not refuse to play and is ready to seek recourse to the main City board and the Premier League if handed the probable fine of up to £1.5m. The appeal process could run until December.