CARLOS TEVEZ has decided he hasn’t been ‘treated like a dog’ after all and, in a dramatic U-turn, has offered his sincere apologies to ‘everyone he has let down'.
Roberto Mancini is not thought to have spoken to Carlos Tevez since the striker returned to Manchester last week after his cagey press conference ahead of City’s Europa League match with Porto tonight, but Tevez has now withdrawn his appeal against the club’s misconduct charge.
"My wish is to concentrate on playing football for Manchester City Football Club,"
Tevez, who has not kicked a ball in training since he ended his three-month self-imposed exile, is not registered for the European Competition and is considered well short of match fitness. "My wish is to concentrate on playing football for Manchester City Football Club," he said.
The striker clearly doesn’t fancy another three months of moping around not playing football, and with the transfer window now shut, it seems he has finally decided to crawl back to the club with his tail between his legs.
It hard to see how much of a contribution Tevez can make towards City’s title bid this season – given that the striker is weeks away from match fitness, and has not played a competitive match since September.
City take a 2-1 lead into tonight’s second leg tie with the Portuguese Champions after Sergio Aguero earned a late winner last week.
In the Football League, Rochdale earned a valuable point towards League One survival with a 1-1 draw at table toppers Charlton Athletic last night.
Nicky Adams put the visitors ahead in the second half after converting a Gary Jones cutback, but Yann Kermorgant earned Charlton a point with a stunning 25-yard free-kick three minutes later.
The result leaves Rochdale three points away from safety.
Bury also squandered an away lead last night after they went down 2-1 at Mk Dons.
David Amoo had put The Shakers ahead after rounding the keeper in the tenth minute, but The Dons snatched the lead with two first half replies from Dean Bowditch. Giles Coke was sent off for Bury for two bookable offences.
The result puts Bury nine points adrift of the playoffs, and eight clear of relegation, leaving fans with little to get overly excited about for another season.
Macclesfield suffered defeat at the hands of Northampton Town in League Two’s five-goal relegation fight thriller last night.
George Donnelly put Mac ahead in the first half before strikes from Luke Guttridge and Michael Jacobs gave Northampton a half-time lead.
The Cobblers sealed the win when Adebayo Akinfenwa gave his side a third in the second half, despite a late goal from Ben Thomlinson giving the visitors a glimmer of hope.
Macclesfield remain three points safe of relegation, with the bottom two having played a game less than The Silkmen.
Finally, Manchester United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak has joined Watford on loan until the end of the season.
The Poland international has fallen to third in the pecking order at Old Trafford behind David de Gea and Andes Lingergaard.
Follow David on Twitter @DavidPMcCourt