Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero could return from injury when the Premier League champions face Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

Aguero, who was City's top scorer last season, has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury against Southampton on the opening weekend of the season last month.

The 24-year-old was back in training earlier this week and boss Roberto Mancini will run the rule over Aguero on Friday before deciding whether to play him against Stoke.

"We try this morning with Sergio and after training we decide. He is getting better - maybe," Mancini said.

There was more good news for Mancini as Italian striker Mario Balotelli has been cleared to play after undergoing laser eye surgery during the international break.

Balotelli had difficulty wearing his contact lenses after being affected by conjunctivitis, but Mancini said: "Mario is okay - Mario now sees everything."

Mancini also revealed that new signings Scott Sinclair, Maicon, Javi Garcia and Matija Nastasic, who all joined just before the transfer window closed, could be in contention to feature at some stage against Stoke.

"We don't have any players with (new) injuries, we are all okay," Mancini said.

"Always is the wrong time for the international break but we have a lot of players."