Benjani (left) and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher in action last season

Zimbabwe striker Benjani Mwaruwari has moved closer to his first English Premier League appearance of the season.

He played for Manchester City's reserve team on Monday night.

Benjani, who has been struggling with a thigh injury, scored the winning goal in a 2-1 defeat of Liverpool's reserve team.

Fellow striker Darius Vassell, who injured a knee before the start of the season, also played in Monday's game.

Manchester City have lost their last two games against Middlesbrough and Bolton, and manager Mark Hughes will welcome the return of Benjani and Vassell.

Left-back Michael Ball also made his comeback from an ankle injury on Monday, but he may have to fight hard for a first-team place.

Hughes is being heavily linked with a move for Marseille's Nigerian defender Taye Taiwo in the January transfer window.

The left-back slot has proved something of a headache in recent weeks for City.

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