ROBERTO Mancini is delighted to see Carlos Tevez playing with a smile on his face.

Tevez wore only a scowl for much of last season as his frustration with Sir Alex Ferguson increased.

It means the Manchester City striker has more reason than most to look towards Wednesday night’s Carling Cup semi-final first leg against his old club at Eastlands.

Before that, however, City travel to Middlesbrough for today’s FA Cup third-round tie with a mounting injury list and the loss of a couple of key men to the African Nations Cup.

It makes Tevez’s presence even more important, given he took his goal tally to eight in seven games with his brace at Wolves on Monday night.

Overall, the Argentina star has scored 12 times since his controversial summer move from Old Trafford – not bad for a player whose record was criticised by Ferguson last summer.

“Carlos Tevez has been outstanding,” said Mancini.

“He is a world-class striker who is in top form.

“He is playing with a smile on his face and to score eight goals during December was an incredible effort.

“He has scored 12 times already for City since he came to the club which is a pretty impressive ratio.

“But Carlos is not just putting the ball in the net.

His movement and pace worries defenders and he is clever too.

“His team ethic is fantastic and he has a good understanding with the players around him.”

For all the money City have spent since their Abu Dhabi-based owners took over 18 months ago, Mancini does not have many options at present and is likely to pack his bench with youngsters at the Riverside.

“Players will have to be flexible because we have a lot of injuries but already they have shown their willingness to fight for the team,” he said.

“I have been really pleased with the way they have all responded since I came to the club.”

In the meantime, Mancini wants to make Gordon Strachan’s difficult start to life at Boro even harder.

“After three wins in succession in the Premier League we have momentum on our side,” he said.

“I want us to maintain that in the FA Cup.

“It is a big competition, one of the most famous domestic cups in the world and one that is loved by the fans. I want to win it.”