Argentina striker Tevez, who had a spectacular falling out with manager Roberto Mancini last September, netted in a 3-1 win for the reserves against Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday watched by an appreciative crowd of around 1,000.
Mancini said Tevez was finished at the club when he ignored an order to warm up as a substitute against Bayern Munich in a Champions League match. However, after City failed to sell him and Tevez apologised, the forward is back in contention.
"His attitude has been absolutely first class," City reserve team coach Andy Welsh told the club website.
Title rivals Manchester United killed off Tottenham Hotspur's championship hopes with a 3-1 win last weekend and on Sunday host in-form West Bromwich Albion, whose 1-0 victory over Chelsea last Saturday cost Andre Villas-Boas his job.
Di Matteo's stint got off to a winning start on Tuesday when his side beat Birmingham City 2-0 in an FA Cup Fifth Round replay and despite their ups and downs this season, Chelsea are very much in the hunt for the fourth Champions League place.
Harry Redknapp's side have suffered two successive demoralising league defeats, losing 5-2 at rivals Arsenal after leading 2-0 and being beaten 3-1 at home by Manchester United.
If Spurs had beaten Arsenal they would have moved 13 points clear of Arsene Wenger's men but their rivals could narrow the gap to one point if Spurs lose again and Arsenal beat Newcastle on Monday.
"I would not settle right now for fourth place. We are four points behind the other North London club - I am not going to say their name - and hopefully we can challenge them," he said after Tuesday's bitter-sweet match.
"Hopefully Chelsea can challenge them for fourth place and I would be really pleased to see them [Spurs] in the Europa League next season. That would be fantastic. Hopefully they w
