Mancini wants goals from Balotelli

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini hopes Mario Balotelli can begin a good run of form, admitting he needs goals from the striker.

Balotelli netted his first English Premier League strike of the season at Wigan on Wednesday and Mancini hopes it might be the start of a scoring streak as City prepare for Saturday’s clash with Everton.

Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez are joint top-scorers for City so far with six goals apiece, while Sergio Aguero has hit the back of the net five times, but Mancini believes the reigning champions need more.

“It was important, it is important for him (Balotelli) because he’s scored his first goal, it’s important because he scored an important goal at a difficult moment,” Mancini said.

“Now I hope he can continue to score because we need his goals.”

Manchester City will welcome Everton to Etihad Stadium on Saturday with a ten-point gap on the Merseyside club.

But Mancini remains convinced Everton can improve from their position of sixth on the Premier League table and challenge for a top-four spot at the end of the season.

“Everton started the season very well, last year only so-so but they can finish in the Europa League (position),” Mancini said.

“They also have the quality to finish in fourth position.

“They are a strong team and have a good mentality.”

The 48-year-old Italian manager has also rejected the idea that the Premier League can only be won by the two Manchester clubs.

Mancini believes Chelsea can still challenge for the title despite trailing Manchester City by six points.