Cesc Fabregas is being lined up for long-awaited return when Mark Hughes Manchester City visit The Emirates tomorrow, writes Jem Maidment. The Spaniard has been missing since injuring knee ligaments against Liverpool before Christmas. Fabregas, again the

Cesc Fabregas is being lined up for long-awaited return when Mark Hughes' Manchester City visit The Emirates tomorrow, writes Jem Maidment.

The Spaniard has been missing since injuring knee ligaments against Liverpool before Christmas.

Fabregas, again the subject of reported interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid during the international break, could also be joined by another long-term absentee, Emmanuel Adebayor, who has not featured for two months after a hamstring injury picked up at Spurs in February.

His condition will be assessed when he returns from international duty with Togo today.

With their new-found oil riches, Manchester City may now be the world's wealthiest football club, but they are still dire away from Eastlands, where they have won their last six games and handed Arsenal their heaviest defeat of the season, 3-0, back in November.

On the road, City have picked up just one point since the new year, albeit an impressive 1-1 draw at Liverpool.

That was also their only goal outside Manchester since December 28, a woeful statistic for a club looking to push into the top four.

Robinho, a scorer against Arsenal five months ago, has now netted 11 times in 24 league matches, an encouraging return despite criticism over his form after joining the club in a record �32.5million deal from Real Madrid last summer.

That loss at City was Arsenal's last league defeat. Since then they have gone 16 games unbeaten and taken maximum points in their past three league outings.

l More Arsenal on page 30

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