• Last away win in league was at Crystal Palace in September • Players given 1am cut-off point for new year celebrations

Manuel Pellegrini believes Manchester City’s problematic away form will be solved once his players’ finishing improves, with his team having taken three points from the last 18 available on the road.

City have failed to win at an opposition stadium since Crystal Palace were defeated by a late Kelechi Iheanacho strike on 12 September. At Leicester City on Tuesday evening Pellegrini’s side drew 0-0 when a number of chances were spurned, including a clear opportunity for Sergio Agüero after the break.

City are at Watford for Saturday’s late kick-off and Pellegrini said: “Maybe we have to finish a little bit more [calmly] and improve the important amount of offensive moments we have but I think we are in the correct way. If we didn’t win the last games that we play away, it is because we must improve.

“It was good to have a clean sheet [at Leicester] but for me the best thing from that game was to continue playing the same way we did in the last two games. We didn’t win against Arsenal but I think we didn’t play a bad game. We played very well against Sunderland and I think we played very well also against Leicester.”

Vincent Kompany suffered another calf injury when coming on as a substitute in the 4-1 victory over Sunderland in Boxing Day. The captain lasted only nine minutes before having to be replaced himself. City will again look at every aspect of Kompany’s mental and physical regime to try to find a final solution to his ongoing muscle problems.

“We are trying to do all to know how we can help Vincent to try to be fit and not to continue with the same calf problems so everything the club can do, we are going to do it.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Vincent Kompany’s injuries continue to be a source of concern. Photograph: Nigel Roddis/EPA

Pellegrini feels his squad has sufficient depth but did not rule out strengthening in the winter window. “No, really I think the squad is complete. As always, I said that we are not going to close the window but we are not really thinking of any special players to bring in.”

Of City’s reported interest in Real Madrid’s Isco, who Pellegrini coached when in charge of Málaga, the Chilean said: “I always answer the same for that question. I don’t talk about rumours. I am telling you what I am thinking about for our squad in this moment.”

In City’s previous two Premier League title-winning campaigns, in 2011-12 and 2013-14, they had 45 and 41 points respectively at the halfway juncture. This term they have 36 points, three behind Arsenal and Leicester City.

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“Yes of course we are in a good position,” said Pellegrini. “Always the best position is to be top of the table but I think that this is a special season in the Premier League. Now just three points behind the leaders. I hope we are going to complete with a very good second part of the season.”

Pellegrini hopes to have Fabian Delph and Gaël Clichy available for the trip to Watford following their recent problems. “Today Fabian Delph and Clichy work normally. They had some small problems in the last game. All the other players are fit,” he said.

Pellegrini said his squad can enjoy the festivities. “All of them must celebrate New Year’s Eve but I think they can do it early – maximum one o’clock,” he said.