Mancini hopeful on Silva fitness

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is hopeful David Silva will be back to full fitness soon.

The 26-year-old has been substituted in his last five matches and Mancini said the midfielder has not been in the same form as earlier in the season.

But Mancini says it is normal for players to suffer with fatigue towards the end of the campaign after featuring so heavily throughout the season.

“I don’t know how many games David has played for us in the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, Carling Cup, FA Cup plus internationals,” he was quoted as saying by The Mirror.

“But it’s normal that a player can arrive at a moment when he can’t play 100 per cent.

“David always plays here (indicates high level with hand) and now maybe he is here (drops hand lower to chest).

“This is normal, but I hope he can recover.”

Goal.com revealed in March that the Spain international has been playing through the pain barrier in recent weeks as he attempts to overcome an injury that he has had since mid-January.