Manchester City boss Pellegrini delighted with squad strength

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is delighted that his side have managed to maintain top form despite the loss of several important players at points in the season.

David Silva is just returning to the starting lineup after a layoff, and Joe Hart is in the match day squad, but Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany have both been ruled out of Saturday’s clash with Stoke City.

Pellegrini is pleased that other players have stepped up and covered those key absences – but admitted his team is better when both Silva and Kompany are available.

With City still fighting on four fronts as they head into 2016, the Chilean insists his team isn’t thinking about the prospects of silverware just yet.

But he wants his team to continue their impressive December record – unbeaten in all competitions in 2013 and 2014 – in order to set up for a prosperous second half of the season