TEAM NEWS: Balotelli & Tevez start in attack for Manchester City's clash with West Brom

Oct 20, 2012 2:00:00 PM

Sergio Aguero is restricted to a place on the bench for the match at the Hawthorns, while David Silva misses out due to injury and is replaced by James Milner on the flank

Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli will start in attack for Manchester City against West Brom at the Hawthorns, with Sergio Aguero restricted to a place on the bench.

James Milner and Samir Nasri flank the central duo, with David Silva missing from the squad after suffering a hamstring injury while playing for Spain during the international break.

In midfield, Yaya Toure partners Gareth Barry while Micah Richards and Gael Clichy are preferred to Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov in the full-back slots.

West Brom head coach Steve Clarke, meanwhile, has elected to start Shane Long up front, with loan starlet Romelu Lukaku among the substitutes.

Gabriel Tamas is at right-back for his second Premier League start of the season, while Liam Ridgewell returns at left-back in place of Goran Popov.

In the wide positions, Zoltan Gera and Peter Odemwingie drop out of the starting XI and are replaced by Marc-Antoine Fortune and Graham Dorrans.

West Brom starting XI: Foster; Tamas, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Mulumbu, Yacob; Fortune, Morrison, Dorrans; Long.

Subs: Luke Daniels, Rosenberg, Lukaku, Odemwingie, Jara, Popov, Gera.

Manchester City starting XI: Hart; Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy; Yaya Toure, Barry; Milner, Tevez, Nasri; Balotelli.

Subs: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Aguero, Kolarov, Kolo Toure, Sinclair, Dzeko.

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