Benjani makes welcome return for City

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Zimbabwean striker Benjani Mwaruwari and Daniel Sturridge made a welcome return for Manchester City reserves on Tuesday night this week. Benjani has been plagued by hamstring trouble this season and made the last of what has been just 12 appearances for City in the pre-Christmas defeat at West Brom.

However, the 30-year-old lasted an hour of the Blues' 2-1 home defeat to Blackburn on Tuesday night and may yet play a major part over the next few weeks as City look to scramble into seventh place and secure European football next season.

The highly-rated Sturridge meanwhile should also play a part. Sturridge has not featured for two months after picking up an ankle injury but he managed 70 minutes. Yet the tasty combination of Zimbabwe skipper Benjani, highly-rated youngster Sturridge and former England forward Darius Vassell failed to produce even one goal for Glyn Hodges' high-flying reserve outfit.

Blackburn, who fielded a handful of experienced operators themselves, sounded a warning after 22 minutes when Carlos Villanueva directed a free kick against the foot of former Rovers goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen's post.

And it was South American import Villanueva, signed by Paul Ince but finding it hard to force his way into successor Sam Allardyce's plans, who put City behind four minutes later when he swivelled to fire home from 20 yards after a knockdown by Roque Santa Cruz's younger brother Julio.

Meanwhile Micah Richards has called upon his Manchester City team-mates to help the club into Europe this season. A top-seven finish in the Premier League could be enough to see the Blues rescue a campaign which promised much, but has delivered little.

Their continued involvement in the Uefa Cup, which has now reached the quarter-final stage, means they could secure a place in next season's inaugural Europa League by winning that competition, but they face stiff opposition in the pursuit of that goal.

Nehanda Radio: Serving Zimbabwe since June 2006

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