Manchester City's top scorer Sergio Aguero is back in contention for tomorrow's League Cup final, Manuel Pellegrini has revealed.

The City manager, meanwhile, was yesterday given a two-match touchline ban by Uefa for his criticism of the referee in his side's Champions League match against Barcelona. A further one-game sanction has been suspended.

Aguero, who has missed the last five games with a hamstring injury, returned to training earlier this week with an eye on a comeback against Sunderland at Wembley.

His potential inclusion gives City a huge lift with the Argentina striker having scored 26 goals this season before limping out of the 5-1 win at Tottenham on January 29.

Pellegrini said: "Of course it is very important for the team to have Sergio again with us because he is a very important player." However he would not confirm whether the Argentina striker would be fit enough to start.

He said: "It is something I must decide from Saturday, and see the way he recovers from the work this week, if he is 100 per cent fit after his injury, to play the whole match."

Fellow forward Stevan Jovetic, who has had little luck since joining City in a £22 million move from Fiorentina last summer, has been ruled out.

The Montenegro international came off the bench during last week's League win over Stoke only to go off again with a hamstring problem.

Defender Matija Nastasic, who has missed four games with a knee injury, is also out.

Sunderland's Adam Johnson admits winning the Cup would be the highlight of his career to date.

The 26-year-old has 11 senior England caps to his name, as well as winners' medals in the Premier League, FA Cup and Community Shield from his time at Manchester City and an FA Youth Cup triumph with first club Middlesbrough.

Johnson said: "Especially the way the season has gone and playing City, it would probably be the highlight of my career.

Manager Gus Poyet's mission was simply to ensure the club remained in the Premier League, and that outcome is still far from certain.

Nevertheless, the recovery he has inspired has led to an unexpected bonus, and it is one which Johnson and his team-mates are determined to exploit to the full.

Should Sunderland defy the odds and beat City to lift their first piece of major silverware since their 1973 FA Cup triumph, the knock-on effect could be crucial for their League survival.

The winger said: "That's just how it goes, isn't it, in football? One minute, you are struggling and the next minute, it can all change for you."