Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has said that forward Carlos Tevez could be ready to return to the his starting lineup in a fortnight.

The Argentinian frontman hasn't featured for City since September and is still short of match fitness after leaving the country without permission for more than three months.

He has, however, recently returned to Eastlands and played his first football for the City reserves on Tuesday.

"At this moment he can't play," Mancini told reporters. "Maybe in two weeks he could be ready."

Mancini added that Tevez would continue to get minutes under his belt by featuring for the reserves.