The Blues boss has the current hectic schedule in mind when deciding to allow his fit players to rest, but his first-choice keeper is unlikely to be one of them.
Shay Given has made four appearances this season, in the Carling Cup and the Europa League, but a recent shoulder injury has forced the Irishman to the sidelines.
Next week is no different, with a vital Barclays Premier League encounter with Wigan being followed by an arduous trip to the Ukraine and back to face Dynamo Kyiv in the Europa League. Then there is the quarter final tie with Reading in the FA Cup sponsored by E.ON on March 13, but the England international has no complaints.
“I’m not really interested in having a break,” says the 23-year-old. “I love playing. It’s great to play in all these games, and I’m happy to do it.
“Losing Shay is a massive blow. It’s a shame, it must have been a difficult season for him, and I’m gutted for him.
“The injury was quite innocuous when it happened. It’s not like he was rolling around in pain. But the physios had to tell him that he wasn’t allowed to carry on, and that he needed to get an op. Apparently, the op has gone successfully, and I hope he gets back fit and well like he did last time.”
The recent wins over Aris and West Brom saw City take early leads and hold onto them, but Joe is urging patience if the same does not happen when Roberto Martinez’s side visit on Saturday
He adds, “We have to realise that we are not going to do that all the time, and when that happens we have to know to go to other plans to win the game.
“We played great against Aris, but the Fulham game was one we should have won, and we know that. For our season to do what we want it to do, after all our hard work we have to win these kinds of games.”
