Joleon Lescott will answer a defensive SOS when Manchester City take on relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road tonight.
The Blues and England defender has found himself on the sidelines for much of the season after losing his place to teenager defender Majita Nastsic.
But the Serbian starlet is a major doubt with inflamed knee ligaments and City are already without skipper Vincent Kompany (calf).
That means Lescott could form an unfamiliar central defensive pairing alongside Spanish midfielder Javi Garcia, who started out in that role as a youngster.
Roberto Mancini's side can close the gap to Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table to two points with a victory and are 17.00 to beat rock-bottom QPR 4-0. Sergio Aguero is available at 4.75 to open the scoring against Harry Redknapp's side, who were humiliated by MK Dons in the FA Cup on Saturday.
Assistant boss David Platt has no concerns whatsoever over Lescott, who has kept his head down and waited for his opportunities.
Platt insists: "To be impressed by Joleon's attitude I'd have had to have expected something different and I never did.
"He is an extremely good professional. Never once since I came here two-and-a-half years ago, from being an ever-present to sometimes finding himself on the bench, have his training levels gone down."
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