Manchester City assistant coach David Platt has hinted that the club will reluctantly accept Mario Balotelli's four-match suspension. The English FA charged the Italian striker with violent conduct after appearing to stamp deliberately on Scott Parker during Sunday's 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. He will automatically receive a four-match ban unless City successfully appeals.

Platt accepted the slow-motion replays of the incident "do not look good."

"We are likely to be without a player for four games," said Platt.

Man City failed to overturn a four-match suspension for Vincent Kompany earlier this month for a far less obvious incident against Manchester United.