LONDON:Carlos Tevez is aiming to be back in England in time for Manchester City's trip to Chelsea on Saturday, the Argentina striker's representative said Monday.

Tevez is currently in Argentina, spending time with his family following the premature birth of his baby daughter, and, according to City manager Roberto Mancini, has ignored the club's requests for him to return.

But Kia Joorabchian, the forward's long-time adviser, insisted the club had been kept fully abreast of developments.

"When your child is in intensive care, it is a very serious matter," Joorabchian said. "When these things happen you have to deal with them and obviously he is having to go through a very difficult period.

"The signs are very positive in terms of his daughter's recovery and we are all hoping this is the case.

"He was determined to get back for the Liverpool game (on Sunday) but unfortunately the situation didn't get much better.

"However, she has got better over the weekend and Carlos hopes things will get better, for his daughter's sake and because he wants to get back and play."

Joorabchian added: "Carlos has been keeping the club informed on a daily basis. He is also training daily with the national team of Argentina out there and spending one and a half to two hours there.

"He is a professional. He understands that side of it."

Tevez's absence means Mancini has Emmanuel Adebayor as his only match-fit senior striker and the Italian vented his frustration in the wake of Sunday's goalless stalemate with Liverpool.

"We have an important week and we do not have the depth so it is not good," Mancini complained. "I have ordered him to come back but he has ignored us."

Story's Average Rating