Nigel de Jong has said that Manchester City are only interested in looking forward following Carlos Tevez's return to the club.

Tevez, who scored for the club's reserves last week, has still not appeared for the first team since returning from his self-imposed exile despite apologising to manager Roberto Mancini last month.

"He is still a player for Manchester City," De Jong told reporters.

"Of course he had some difficulties with the club but he is here now and we like to look to the future instead of the past.

"For us the main goal is to win the Premier League. If that means Carlos has to be part of it, for the last few games of the season, so be it."

Mancini has said that Tevez could make his first appearance for the first team since September when Chelsea visit the Etihad Stadium next week.