Mancini: "This is a stupid rule"

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is frustrated at injured striker Sergio Aguero's recent international call-up, branding FIFA rules as "stupid".

Aguero has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury in City's season-opening Premier League game against Southampton four weeks ago.

But despite the 24-year-old being ruled out at least until this weekend, that did not stop Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella naming him in his squad for this month's World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru.

Mancini accepts Argentina had a right to call up the player to conduct their own medical assessment under the rules of the world governing body, but does not think it helped his recovery.

When asked if Aguero had remained in Manchester during the past fortnight, Mancini said: "No, because his manager wanted him there.

"He went there for five days, he worked with the physio. The Argentina manager wanted him there.

"This is a stupid rule because if we had a player who is injured for two weeks it is better he stays here."

Mancini described the rule as "ridiculous" when he first heard of Aguero's call-up and had hoped the player would be allowed to stay in England.

Despite that, Aguero was due to undergo a fitness test prior to the encounter with Stoke.

The club's £38million record signing resumed training earlier this week in the hope of possibly featuring at the Britannia Stadium.

Ideally, Mancini would like to give his top scorer from last season a run out ahead of next Tuesday's Champions League game at Real Madrid.

Mancini said: "Sergio is not 100% but his knee is okay. Maybe he could be on the bench."