Carlos Tevez has thanked Manchester City fans for standing by him after his falling-out with Roberto Mancini. The Argentinian has scored in every Premier League game this season, after a reconciliation with his manager and the club in April following his refusal to warm up during a Champions League match a year ago.

"I don't know if I'm an idol for the City fans, but I am very grateful to them," he told the Manchester Evening News. "They have always treated me well, even after all of the things that were said away from the pitch. They have always welcomed me, and for that I am grateful.

"Whatever I do, they make me feel at home and I would like to thank the fans for that. What I want is to keep winning silverware. That is why you train and play – to keep winning trophies – and that pressure will always be there. It's like every Sunday you take an exam. In football you have to play a game under pressure. But I don't put myself under extra pressure to become a champion – that is just something I want to achieve."

Mancini believes Tevez's compatriot Sergio Agüero might have recovered from a knee injury to start at Stoke City on Saturday if the striker had not been forced by the "stupid" Fifa rule to join Argentina for the recent World Cup qualifiers.

Agüero has not played since suffering the problem against Southampton in City's opening league game. Although he could yet make the XI for Stoke, he has only an outside chance. Agüero did not feature for Argentina and Mancini is unhappy the 24-year-old had to fly there.

And after not featuring for Argentina Mancini is unhappy the striker had to fly home.

"This is a stupid rule because if we had a player who is injured for two weeks it is better he stays here to recover very well. He went there [to Argentina] for five days. He worked with the physio and then came back – the Argentina manager wants him there. Sergio is not 100% but his knee is OK; he doesn't have pain.

"Maybe he could be on the bench [at Stoke]. We try this [Friday] morning with Sergio and after we try, we will decide."

Looking forward to Tuesday's opening Champions League match, at Real Madrid, Mancini said: "Sure, for Madrid he's ready."

Agüero scored 30 times for City in last season's debut campaign and his manager believes the striker can increase the tally this term. "I think so. It is difficult to score more than 20 goals in the first season in the Premier League. This year if he is lucky with injuries I think he can score more," said Mancini, who thinks a revitalised Tevez, who has scored in all three league games so far, will help his countryman in this quest. "Yes, why not? Carlos is Argentinian. Carlos is improved with his behaviour, he works seriously in pre-season, I think he is another player for us."

Scott Sinclair, Maicon, Javi García and Matija Nastasic, all signed on the transfer window's closing day, are available to Mancini for selection for a first time at the Britannia Stadium. "They are OK. García is OK, Maicon the same. Nastasic arrived yesterday for the first session," he said. "After [the Friday] training session we will decide because a lot of players have arrived from the other side of the world. Zaba [Pablo Zabaleta] arrived yesterday [from Argentina]."

Gareth Barry is also in contention for a first time this season following his long-standing groin problem. "He's worked well this week and he's very close. I don't think he is ready to play a full game but maybe 30 minutes is possible," said Mancini, who confirmed there were no complications following Mario Balotelli's eye operation: "Mario is OK – Mario now sees everything."

Last season City drew 1-1 at Stoke in what proved a vital point during their title run-in. "Stoke is one of the worst pitches in the Premier League because it is very difficult to play there because they're a strong team. For us, it is very difficult, but not only for us, for all the teams. It is important we try to play football like we do. It is difficult."