Roberto Mancini plays down row with Carlos Tevez

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini claims reports of a dressing room spat with Carlos Tevez have been blown out of all proportion.

Mancini was reported to have angrily confronted his captain at half-time during Sunday's 2-1 victory over Newcastle United at Eastlands.

According to Tuesday's newspapers, the Italian coach reacted furiously to suggestions from Tevez that, with the scores level at 1-1 at the time, his tactics were wrong.

He later substituted the Argentina striker, but has now suggested that the reporting of the row has been exaggerated.

"My encounter with Tevez? There has been a lot of nonsense written," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"These things happen in our locker room as much as they do in any other. It is necessary and it is good when it happens.

"It was a heated confrontation but after that City won, so the wake-up call worked.

"Before returning to the field we had cleared it all up."

Meanwhile, Mancini has revealed that striker Mario Balotelli could be available for their Premier League clash with Arsenal at the end of October.

The £25million summer signing from Internazionale has been sidelined since injuring his knee on his debut back in August.

"It's time for him to return, and quickly," he added."He's recovering well and I hope to have him back for the game against Arsenal on October 24.

"Has it been a long recovery? No, it has been normal. It depends on the player, sometimes people come back early and sometimes later. I hope Mario is early.

"He had tests on his knee on Friday and again on Monday. It should be okay."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email