Can Joleon Lescott find a way back in?

Just what has Joleon Lescott done to upset Roberto Mancini?  The England international centre half has not featured for Manchester City in over a month and has not started a league game since 20^th October.

The last match Lescott started for the club was four days later, as City travelled to Amsterdam to take on Ajax in the Champions League.  After letting his man get away from him for the goal that saw their opponents take the lead, Mancini swiftly took him off and replaced him with Aleksandar Kolarov.  Since that substitution, Lescott has had restricted access to a place in the side, with his Italian manager sometimes not even granting him a place on the substitutes bench.

Rumours have surfaced about the possibility of the defender leaving Eastlands on loan in January, as the club boast several alternative players for his position.  Serbian youngster Matija Nastasic has been playing regularly in Lescott’s absence, whilst Kolo Toure and Micah Richards can also stake a claim for a place in City’s defence.

Is Mancini holding a grudge against Lescott for a costly mistake in the Champions League?  Or does he simply believe that his other defenders are more suited to City’s style of play this season?  Either way, the Italian manager cannot allow himself to have a short memory.  Despite gaining all the plaudits for his magnificent performances at the heart of City’s defence last season, Vincent Kompany could not have led the club to their first Premier League title without Joleon Lescott alongside him.  Their solid partnership in front of Joe Hart helped City to grind out results and, when one of the centre halves was missing from the team, the side looked vulnerable.

Lescott’s last appearance for City was a one minute cameo against Swansea, the match after he was substituted against Ajax.  Will he return to the starting lineup soon, or is their truth to the rumours of his exit?

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