Long-term injury absentee Martin Petrov has provided Manchester City with a timely boost by returning to the team. The 30-year-old Bulgaria footballer has been sidelined by knee ligament damage since October and has made only a handful of appearances for his team this season.

Petrov returned to reserve-team action only on Monday at Newcastle, playing 45 minutes after a six-month absence with a knee injury.

Petrov has scored seven goals in 46 appearances for City since his arrival from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2007.