Craig Bellamy will be available for selection for Sunday’s crunch game against Liverpool if his good progress coming back from a knee injury continues.

At his Friday morning press conference, Blues manager Roberto Mancini stated that the striker had been working with physios at Carrington since Wednesday and that if his early Friday morning session was a success he would join the main group for training.

Mancini also moved swiftly to scotch stories in some newspapers of an argument between himself and Bellamy.

“I read that I have a problem with him, that I shouted at him. Craig trained on Wednesday, yesterday and he will train today. I have spoken to him, face to face, but as a manager speaks to a player," he stressed.

"I have not shouted at him, never. I am happy to resolve things, face to face, in a room but I do not have a problem with him. If his knee is OK today and tomorrow, he will be available for Sunday.

“I did not tell him to go away for three months, that is false. He is here training today, he worked with the physio for the first time on Wednesday for the first time in 12 days.

"He worked with the physio on Thursday when the other players were off, he did so again today and if he is alright after he will be with us for training.”

The Manager will be hoping to have Bellamy as an option for the game which pits City against the team immediately below them and vying for that coveted fourth place in the Barclays Premier League table.

The Welshman could prove vital, especially with Mancini revealing that Martin Petrov has a knee injury of his own that will keep him sidelined for three to four weeks.

Also out of contention for Sunday is Patrick Vieira, who starts a three match ban at the weekend.

Mancini confirmed that he had not yet spoken the French legend about the incident and the ban.

Patrick made a mistake and now he is out for three important games. I hope it won’t be a big problem for us, but it has happened so we have to deal with it. We have not spoken about it.

...Mancini on Vieira...

“It will be difficult for us and for him, he needs to play and we have three big games coming up this week that he won’t be able to play in.”

Mancini also confirmed that Carlos Tevez will miss the Liverpool game as he is still on compassionate leave in Argentina.