Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has declared that Carlos Tevez can help the club revive their flagging title defence if he finds form between now and May.

Tevez returned to the starting XI against Leeds United yesterday and marked his comeback with a goal in City's 4-0 FA Cup win at the Etihad.

Mancini believes that Tevez can use his experience and quality to help spark a late charge similar to his impact in the final part of last season.

He told The Sun: "Carlos is an important player for us when he is in good form. He has experience, he fights.

"He had three, four, six days away for family reasons and today he played 60 minutes. It was important he scored a goal for his confidence.

"We need our strikers to continue to score like today. If they start to score, I think we can have other chances in the Premier League."

The champions return to Premier League action next weekend against Chelsea in a clash between second and third in the top flight.