AGUERO FIGHTS ELBOW BAN IN HOPE OF FACING UNITED

Sergio Aguero has decided to contest his FA violent conduct charge in the hope of facing Manchester united in next weekend’s derby match at old Trafford.

The Manchester City striker faces the prospect of a threematch ban, having been charged retrospectively for appearing to elbow West Ham’s Winston reid at the etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The incident, after which reid was seen holding his neck, was missed by referee Andre Marriner — who was just a few yards away — and his fellow officials during the match.

Aguero had been given until 6pm yesterday to respond to the charge, which was issued after a review panel felt he should have been sent off. A date for a disciplinary hearing will now be determined.

if Aguero is found guilty he could be suspended for City’s next three domestic matches, including the derby on September 10. The home clash with Bournemouth on September 17 and eFL Cup tie at Swansea four days later are the other games he would miss.

Losing Aguero would be a big blow for City boss Pep guardiola going into his first meeting of the season against Jose Mourinho’s united.

Aguero, who is not playing in Argentina’s forthcoming World Cup qualifying doubleheader against uruguay and Venezuela due to a calf injury, has made a superb start to the season, scoring six times in his first three appearances including a hat-trick in a Champions League play-off win at Steaua Bucharest.

His form has helped guardiola’s side win their opening three games of the Premier League season, with united and Chelsea the only other teams in the league with perfect records so far.

An FA statement read: ‘offthe-ball incidents which are not seen at the time by the match officials are referred to a panel of three former elite match officials.’

each panel member felt Aguero should have been sent off.