MANCHESTER -- Manuel Pellegrini is considering picking right-back Bacary Sagna in the middle of the Manchester City defence in the middle of defence against Norwich as he looks for an answer to his injury problems.
Eliaquim Mangala, who has a hamstring problem, and Vincent Kompany, who has a calf injury, both miss the FA Cup tie at Carrow Road. And Pellegrini, who is also without injured striker Wilfried Bony, has only two fit specialist centre-backs, in Nicolas Otamendi and Martin Demichelis.
But with right-back Pablo Zabaleta fit again, the Chilean could move Sagna into the centre of the defence.
"Bacary is an option to play as a centre-back," he said in a news conference. "He has done it before in the past and he likes to play in that position. He is an important option especially now that Pablo Zabaleta has recovered from his [knee] injury and he will start playing."
City loaned centre-back Jason Denayer to Galatasaray but the Belgium international does not have a recall clause and could only return to the Etihad Stadium if both clubs agreed on it.
While Pellegrini did not rule out Denayer's return, sources told ESPN FC that it would be unlikely, while the manager added: "Mangala and Wilfried Bony continue to be injured."
Mangala came off at half-time in the 2-1 defeat Everton in the Capital One Cup, while Bony missed that match with a calf problem and Pellegrini is yet to reveal if the Ivorian will be fit again for the rematch with Roberto Martinez's side on Wednesday in the Premier League.
He said he will not rush captain Kompany back into action, explaining: "Vincent is progressing the same way a muscle injury must progress with time but you cannot try to hurry him up because he needs the days to have a good calf."
Pellegrini has picked his second-choice goalkeeper Willy Caballero throughout the Capital One Cup and had already said the Argentinian would start at Carrow Road.
Now he has confirmed Joe Hart will remain on the bench in the FA Cup, saying: "Willy will play both cups."
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