Football News : Hargreaves set for Man City bow in Carling Cup

By ESPNsoccernet staff

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has confirmed that Owen Hargreaves is being lined up to make his debut for the club in Wednesday's Carling Cup clash with holders Birmingham.

Mancini: Our squad isn't strong enough

Hargreaves, 30, arrived at City on transfer deadline day after being released by rivals Manchester United at the end of an injury-plagued four years at Old Trafford.

The England international has barely played any competitive football over the past three years but has impressed Mancini enough in training to be considered for the Carling Cup third-round encounter.

"I need to speak with Owen and on Tuesday we will decide if he will play, but he probably will," Mancini said. He has been in full training but he is not 100%. He could play maybe 30 to 45 minutes."

Mancini confirmed he will be making wholesale changes to the City team that drew 2-2 with Fulham on Sunday, taking the opportunity to rest some of his key players.

Carlos Tevez is expected to make only his second start of the season against Championship side Birmingham, while Kolo Toure will also be welcomed back into the first XI for the first time since his six-month drugs ban ended.

"I will change the team absolutely because I need five or six players resting," Mancini said. "We want to keep going in the competition but we also need to change players. We also need to recover Kolo and some of the other players."