Elano

CITY midfielder Elano will be fit for the Premier League trip to Reading this weekend.

The Brazilian playmaker missed training earlier this week, after suffering a knee injury in the goalless draw against Wigan last weekend.

Elano, who also served a suspension recently, has endured a difficult spell after impressing in City's bright start to the campaign.

Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson admits other teams have now found ways to combat his £8million star signing but is confident the 26-year-old will soon return to his best.

Eriksson said: "He did everything today and he was at training yesterday as well. It is good to have him back - he is one of our most important players.

"He started brilliantly for us. He had a lot of good games, scored a lot of goals and was involved in a lot of good goals.

"But recently he has been injured, and everyone knows how good he is and will not allow him space.

"Of course, physically, he is not the strongest player in the Premier League. Opponents have discovered that - and that makes life much more difficult for him."

Eriksson accepts Elano will simply have to adapt, adding: "It is something he has to learn and cope with, because that is Premier League.

"I am not worried about it. He is a great player and has not lost that overnight.

"He will come back and be important for us, we hope, for the rest of the season and the seasons to come."

Defender Nedum Onuoha has been ruled out of Saturday's match at the Madejski Stadium with a hamstring injury but should return to training next week.

Midfielder Martin Petrov is suspended, while England defender Micah Richards is sidelined after undergoing knee surgery last week.

City remain confident Richards will return before the end of the season.

Eriksson said: "The surgeon that operated said six weeks, and we think he will be ready in six weeks."