NEWCASTLE midfielder Jonas Gutierrez has urged the Manchester City hierarchy to seek a rapprochement with his compatriot Carlos Tevez.

Tevez is currently on unauthorised leave in his native Argentina, and so will not be involved when Newcastle visit the Etihad Stadium tomorrow to take on the Premier League leaders.

Roberto Mancini claimed Tevez would never play for Manchester City again after he accused him of refusing to come onto the pitch as a substitute in last month's Champions League defeat in Bayern Munich, and the pair's relationship deteriorated further when the striker flew back to his homeland last week without his manager's permission.

A parting of the ways now appears inevitable, although it will not be straightforward with City hoping to recoup the majority of the £47m they paid to sign Tevez from Manchester United, but Gutierrez is urging City's rulers to do all they can to rebuild their bridges with the volatile 27-year-old.

"I think the boss, the club and Carlos have to come up with the best solution to this," said Newcastle's Argentina international. "It is not possible for things to stay as they are because the Premier League is losing a big player in Carlos Tevez. I hope he comes back and plays in a few weeks.

"I think they all have to talk. Either Carlos comes back, is put in the squad in his position and is picked again as a starter, or they all decide to say, 'Okay, let's look for something else'.

"The situation is in the hands of the club and they have to speak to Carlos and make a decision. They have to do something, one way or the other.

"I haven't spoken to Carlos for a little while, but the last time I spoke to him he was sad because he was not playing. Carlos is the type of player, a top player, who just wants to play. It is hard for him and he will be very sad."