Tevez close to Man City return

Carlos Tevez has lost three kilograms since returning to Manchester City last month and is well on track to play a part in the club’s title run-in.

The Argentine striker scored for the club’s elite development squad against Bolton on Tuesday on his first public appearance in a City shirt for more than five months.

In his 66 minutes on the pitch at Hyde, watched by assistant manager Brian Kidd and football administrator Brian Marwood, Tevez looked far sharper than in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Preston last week.

And City are ready to ramp up his comeback thanks to the dramatic impact of the training regime he has been undergoing since he returned to Manchester last month following a three month exile.

The 28-year-old returned to the club severely unfit but Goal.com can reveal he has since lost several kilogram and has been pencilled in to be part of the first-team squad for the game against Chelsea on March 19.

Tevez, who received a warm welcome from around 1000 City fans on Tuesday, is expected to travel with the elite development squad again next week for a friendly against Dutch side NEC Nijmegen in the Netherlands.

Tevez fell out with City manager Roberto Mancini after he refused to warm-up during the Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich in September.

But he has since apologised to the Italian and has been told he will be considered for a return for the Premier League leaders as soon as he is match-fit.