Manchester City will allow striker Carlos Tevez as much time off as he needs after his baby daughter was born prematurely, BBC Sport understands.




Tevez, 26, has missed City's last three games after being granted compassionate leave to fly to Argentina where his daughter, Katie, is in intensive care.

Club officials have spoken to Tevez but do not know when he plans to return.

Roberto Mancini's men face Stoke in the FA Cup on Wednesday and play Premier League leaders Chelsea on Saturday.

City manager Mancini hopes to have Tevez available for those matches but has not spoken to the Argentine, who has scored 19 goals since joining City from local rivals Manchester United last summer, since Wednesday.