Barry hopeful of facing Villa

Gareth Barry will be hoping to face former club Aston Villa on Monday.

Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry is winning his fitness battle to take on former club Aston Villa on Monday night.

The England international has missed the last few games with an ankle injury but returned to training on Wednesday.

Barry will step up his intensity over the weekend but is determined to return to his old Villa Park stomping ground.

The England man was once a firm Villa favourite, but has received a rough ride ever since his £12million move to the Etihad Stadium back in 2010.

Barry scored an own goal when Villa dumped Roberto Mancini's side out of the Capital One Cup earlier this season, although City gained their revenge in a 5-0 league drubbing.

City are 1.50 to win at Villa Park on Monday, with the draw 4.50, while Villa are 19.00 to triumph by the only goal of the game.

Mancini, meanwhile, is refusing to concede the title to rivals Manchester United, despite the chance they could be 15 points behind before they take on Paul Lambert's team.

The Italian insisted: "We played a really good game against Chelsea last week and it was important to beat them.

"Villa are in a different situation. For me they have good players. Maybe they have young players and this is the reason they are fighting relegation.

"If we don't beat them, it is like we did nothing against Chelsea and for this reason it is important for us to beat them and after continue to go."

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