Image by eckster via FlickrTEAM NEWSManchester City captain Carlos Tevez is out with a thigh injury. Tevez came off during the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal last weekend after suffering a dead leg and has been given permission by City boss Roberto Mancini to travel to Argentina to visit his family before reporting back on Monday. Dedryck Boyata is supended following his sending-off against the Gunners, while Aleksandar Kolarov (ankle) and Michael Johnson (toe) are still not ready to return to first-team action - but Kolo Toure should be fit to feature having missed the last three games with a hamstring problem.
Wolves skipper Karl Henry returns from suspension. The midfielder has served a three-match ban following his sending-off against Wigan a month ago. Central defender Jody Craddock is still sidelined with a thigh injury but is hoping to return to action in two weeks' time, while Stephen Hunt is in contention to make his first league start since his summer move from Hull after recovering from a foot injury.
KEY FACTS
Wolves’ first ever win in the Premier League came at home to Manchester City back in October 2003.
Carlos Tevez scored twice in this fixture last season.
Wolves are the only Premier League team not to have kept a clean sheet this season.
Wolves have not won since the opening day and have lost five of their last six games.
City have gone three games without keeping a clean sheet.
Manchester City have not won three successive Premier League away games since April 2007.
City have had just three attempts on goal emanating from indirect free-kicks this season, the fewest in the league.
No team has scored fewer second half goals than Wanderers this season, two.
Wolves have scored only one goal from a set piece this season, a joint-low.
Christophe Berra has picked up three yellows and one red card in his last six Premier League appearances.
MATCH ODDS
Wolverhampton 15/4, Draw 23/10, Manchester City 4/6
RSC can leave
Santa Cruz has played only once this season and was recently quoted as stating his desire to leave City in the next transfer window.
Roberto Mancini believes Roque Santa Cruz deserves better than his current predicament at Manchester City and hopes the Paraguay international can find another club in January
It has been a disappointing time for the striker at Eastlands since his arrival from Blackburn in 2009 and Mancini has given the green light for Santa Cruz to move on.
"Roque is a fantastic man and a good player, but he knows the situation here," the City manager said. "I am very sorry for him because Roque deserves to play every game because he works very well.
"But it is difficult at the moment. I hope for him that he can go to play for another team because he deserves this."
Hughes wants guess who
Fulham manager Mark Hughes could be set to renew his interest in Roque Santa Cruz when the January transfer window opens.
Hughes failed in an attempt to sign Santa Cruz on loan during the summer but is weighing up a second approach for the unsettled Manchester City striker.
Hughes worked with Santa Cruz at Eastlands and Blackburn and the Paraguay international has been told he can leave City.
"I'm interested in players of the quality of Roque," Hughes said. "My interest in him before was there for everybody to see.
"Whether we pursue that in January is open to debate. I'm not aware that he's available. That might change. But I don't like discussing players by name before we've actually signed him.
"This time in the transfer window we want to target players quite early so that we are ready to flick the switch when the window opens."

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