Huge boost for City in title showdown as Kompany returns to shore up defence

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is set to end his latest injury absence and return to lead his side’s bid to revive their Premier League title challenge against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Kompany has been out of action since a 4-1 win over Sunderland on Boxing Day when he suffered the recurrence of a calf injury that has dogged the defender in recent seasons.

The Belgium international, 29, has been restricted to just nine league appearances this season, but with him in the starting line-up City have not lost and have conceded just two goals.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini will therefore restore Kompany to the centre of defence as his side aim to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat to table-toppers Leicester City last Saturday that left the title contenders six points adrift of the leaders and one point behind third-placed Arsenal and second-placed Tottenham.

“Vincent has worked the last three weeks without any problems. He played 45 minutes in a friendly with the Under-21s so I think that he is ready now to play,” Pellegrini said.

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“I think that you have seen Kompany playing so many years here that I don’t have to say what he brings to the team.