Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 8y

Manchester City's David Silva may start vs. Hull, says Manuel Pellegrini

Manuel Pellegrini is weighing up whether to give David Silva his first start in 10 games against Hull in Tuesday's Capital One Cup quarterfinal against Hull.

The Chilean has admitted his options are otherwise limited by injuries as he cannot rotate in some parts of his team.

But midfielder Silva, who had injured his ankle playing for Spain against Luxembourg in October, came off the bench in Saturday's 3-1 win over Southampton and has a case to begin the match against Steve Bruce's Championship club.

"We will see," Pellegrini said. "It was important for David to play these minutes. It was not a muscle injury so maybe he's not 100 percent in his fitness about running the whole game but he doesn't have any risk to start in the way he doesn't feel pain in his ankle."

The Chilean is waiting to see if Sergio Aguero, who came off in Saturday's 3-1 win over Southampton with an ankle problem, will be fit but, after giving the Argentinian three consecutive starts, he was already considering resting him the striker.

But he has no option but to use centre-backs Martin Demichelis and Nicolas Otamendi and right-back Bacary Sagna again because the alternatives -- Vincent Kompany, Eliaquim Mangala and Pablo Zabaleta -- are all sidelined.

And Willy Caballero is set to continue in place of the injured Joe Hart in goal, while midfielder Samir Nasri is a long-term absentee.

"Maybe we will make some changes but not so many as Zabaleta, Kompany, Mangala and Nasri are all out," said Pellegrini.

He could bring in Jesus Navas, Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfried Bony, Gael Clichy and Fernando, who were all substitutes on Saturday, and is waiting to see if any City player sustained injuries against Southampton, adding: "It is very important to speak to the medical staff and we will decide on Tuesday which is the starting XI against Hull."

City and Liverpool are the only English clubs still in four competitions and Pellegrini's side are alone in playing in both the Champions League and the Capital One Cup.

And while the 62-year-old believes it tough to battle on four fronts, let alone win all four, he wants to carry on in each.

He added: "I think it's difficult [to win all four], but you as a manger want to be involved in all competitions. If you have all the whole squad and you are lucky not to have injuries during the year, and you have a great performance of the players, maybe you can do it. But really we are not thinking that in this moment."

City won both the Capital One Cup and the Premier League in 2014 but Pellegrini admitted some of their title rivals may prefer to be able to concentrate on a solitary aim.

"Maybe teams that are out of some competitions think it is more easy to play the Premier but it is my way of thinking. We always want to continue in all the competitions," he said.

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