Roberto Mancini has given the biggest indication yet that he is ready to welcome Carlos Tevez back into the Manchester City fold.

Tevez has not featured for City since September following a touchline row with Manchester City during a Champions League tie against Bayern Munich.

The striker has spent the past two months on his native Argentina, but reports have now claimed that he is ready to return to Manchester.

Asked whether an apology would be necessary before Tevez could return, Mancini told Sky Sports News: "Yes, it's possible. I think for now we should be happy for this game.

"For Carlos' situation, we know what can happen, Carlos knows what can happen and we are here and Carlos knows everything.

"Carlos is a Manchester City player. We are in Manchester, we are always there. We have not changed in these three months, we are there."

Mancini was speaking after his side's 1-0 win at Aston Villa.