Last Updated: Sat, 03 Mar 2012 11:41
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini hopes his side reap the benefits from Mario Balotelli's controversial axing by Italy this week.
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli left the maverick striker out of his squad for the midweek international friendly against the United States - a decision which attracted criticism after the game ended in defeat for the Azzurri.
Prandelli publicly cited Balotelli's indiscipline as the reason for his omission and earned a rebuke from the player's agent as a result.
Yet with Balotelli having only returned to Barclays Premier League action after a four-match domestic ban for stamping on Tottenham's Scott Parker last week, Mancini has also recently reminded the 21-year-old of his responsibilities.
Mancini said: "We hope that after Tottenham he can now play all the games until the end without problem.
"I think every year he can improve because he is young but, with Mario, in every moment anything can happen. But I hope after this week, when he didn't play for the national team, this can put him in a good way for the last two months."
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