Manchester City's David Silva returns after missing 9 games

Manchester City has started to stutter in its last few matches, with just one point taken from a possible nine, so the return to fitness of David Silva is a huge bonus for manager Manuel Pellegrini.

City's creative spark was named on the bench for Saturday's visit of Southampton, and was introduced in the 75th minute with his team leading 3-1.

The Spaniard last featured for his club in the 6-1 rout of Newcastle on Oct. 3. He was in the lineup for Spain six days later, but was forced to withdraw in the 10th minute of the 4-0 dismissal of Luxembourg with an ankle injury.

A win against the Saints will take City to the summit of the Premier League, but if either Leicester City or Manchester United picks up a win in the later kickoff, Pellegrini's side will be promptly usurped.