Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany a doubt for Manchester derby

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany faces a late fitness test ahead of Sunday’s derby at Old Trafford.

Kompany picked up a hamstring injury in City’s 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace on Monday and will have to prove his fitness ahead of the meeting with Manchester United.

“We will assess Vincent tomorrow. What happens with the problem he had in the last game,” manager Manuel Pellegrini told reporters on Friday.

“He finished the last game but he didn’t work this week in a normal way. We will see tomorrow if he can play or not.

“I always the same answer – it’s always better to play with Kompany but if, for different reasons, he cannot play, not we have a squad and he must be replaced.

“But we will see tomorrow if he can play or not. It is always better to play with Kompany, but we have a squad [to cope if he is not fit].”

City have struggled since the turn of the year, picking up just 18 points out of a possible 36, and head into Sunday’s game having dropped to fourth in the Premier League table.

Worryingly for the champions they have lost their last three away games in the league, but Pellegrini is hopeful that can rediscover their form.

“2015 has not been a good year for us. Before that, we were the best team playing away from home,” he added.

“We hope we can continue with the good things we are doing, because we are not in a mess.

“We are not having the results we need and we must improve, but never in my way of thinking is to play for a draw.”

Credit: Michelle/Setanta Sport