Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is hoping his side can defeat Newcastle United and then enjoy the arrival of an international break.
The Citizens have been hit by injuries to a number of key players in recent weeks, with skipper Vincent Kompany currently sidelined and Yaya Toure having to be replaced at half-time of the 2-1 Champions League victory over Borussia Monchengladbach.
And, while Pellegrini was pleased to see fortune favour his side in Germany on Wednesday evening, he is looking forward to an opportunity for some of his squad to recover from the problems picked up in the early part of the season.
He told reporters: “We need the international break because we have eight injured players and we don’t have many options.
“It is important for the players to beat Newcastle on Saturday and then after that we have 15 days.”
After they take on Newcastle, the men from Manchester are not back in domestic action until they host Bournemouth on the October 17.
City have lost their last two Premier League games to West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur and have seen city rivals United take over at the top of the table.
Next up is a clash with the Magpies at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, with City having won the last 11 league meetings between the two sides.
They have not even conceded a goal in the last five clashes, scoring 17 unanswered goals against the Tynesiders, who were thrashed 5-0 at the Etihad last season and 4-0 in each of the previous two campaigns.
City are 1.20 to defeat Newcastle and 7.00 to be held to a draw.
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