Mancini accepts Tevez apology, says chance he can return

LONDON (Reuters) - The prospect of outcast Carlos Tevez pulling on a Manchester City shirt again moved a little closer on Wednesday when manager Roberto Mancini said he accepted the Argentine striker's apology for his behaviour over recent months.

Tevez issued an unreserved apology on Tuesday and withdrew his appeal against a gross misconduct charge handed to him by the Premier League leaders after he spent most of the past three months in his homelend without the club's permission.

"I'm happy with what Carlos said. Tomorrow (Thursday) I will talk to him," Mancini said after City completed a 6-1 aggregate victory over Porto in the Europa League with a 4-0 thrashing of the Portuguese side.

"I've accepted his apology. There's a chance he can play for Manchester City again. I think he needs two or three weeks to train, and some games, but if he's ready in two or three weeks that's normal."

The events of the past 24 hours represent a remarkable turnaround after the 28-year-old seemed unlikely ever to play for the club again following a bitter fall-out that began when he refused to warm up during City's Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich in September.

Mancini had said before that Tevez was "finished" at the club and the player's subsequent unauthorised absence prompted City to fine him six weeks' wages after finding him guilty of gross misconduct for serious breaches of contract.

Tevez had lodged an appeal with the Premier League over the charge but withdrawn it.

Only last week Tevez appeared to further isolate himself when he accused Mancini of treating him "like a dog" in Munich -- an accusation flatly rejected by Mancini.

Tevez said on Tuesday that his wish was to concentrate on playing for City again and helping them push for their first English league title since 1968.

However, even if Mancini does welcome him back to the squad, the affection once reserved for Tevez from the City fans is now lavished on fellow Argentine Sergio Aguero who was on the scoresheet again against Porto on Wednesday.

With Tevez absent without leave, Aguero has bagged 20 goals this season already while Mario Balotelli has also been scoring regularly, notching 12 goals.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Pritha Sarkar)