Mancini not getting carried away

Roberto Mancini has told his Manchester City players to ignore the fact they will go top of the Premier League by beating Wolves on Saturday.

Yet Mancini is anxious not to spend time bothering about that.

All the Italian cares about is where City are at the season's end.

"We should not think about it," he said. "We should only think about our games.

"The season is very long and we have another 17 matches to play.

"The table could change every three days, so we must focus only on Wolverhampton, nothing else."

Mancini's assessment is understandable.

Along with Liverpool and Chelsea, City have already been one of Wolves' high-profile victims this term.

By taking points off all the established big four, plus Tottenham this term, the Blues have proved they are good enough to challenge for the biggest prizes.

But, as Mancini acknowledges, that is only part of the battle.

"If you beat all these teams, the ones like Wolves, Blackpool and Aston Villa and draw against those like Chelsea and United, you win the title.

"But it is not easy.

"The problem comes when you meet a team that, in your head, you think are easy.

"Against Arsenal, United or Chelsea, you don't need to remind yourself to concentrate. You are there a week before.

"There is no such thing as an easy game."

Mancini is pondering whether to hand a debut to £27million new boy Edin Dzeko.

With three matches in a week coming up and the 24-year-old slightly rusty, having not played a competitive game since the start of the German winter break in mid-December, he may start life as a City player on the bench.

More certain is the Bosnian's arrival is set to release Roque Santa Cruz from his personal torment, and probably Shaun Wright-Phillips, who has been eased out of the first-team picture since Mancini's arrival.

"If an opportunity for either of them to play came up, then it would be better for them," said Mancini.

"Probably Roque will go to Blackburn in one or two days and Shaun has two or three options."