what the papers say

SWP back to return to Three Lions' fold

The Times start with...

'Mark Hughes praises form of Shaun Wright-Phillips'

Mark Hughes, the Manchester City manager, believes that Fabio Capello will be missing a trick if fails to include Shaun Wright-Phillips in his England squad for this month's World Cup qualifying matches against Kazakhstan and Belarus. Wright-Phillips will be given another chance to stake a claim for a place in Capello's squad when City play host to Omonia Nicosia in the second leg of their Uefa Cup first-round tie this evening and Hughes is confident that the winger has done enough to warrant a call-up.

Despite scoring the winning goal after coming on as a substitute in Capello's first match in charge of England, a 2-1 friendly win against Switzerland at Wembley in February, Wright-Phillips, 26, has played no part in the Italian's subsequent squads. But after a disappointing three-year spell at Chelsea came to an end in August, the winger has rediscovered his best form, with three goals in five games.

Another goal or two this evening would be welcomed, as City defend a 2-1 lead, and could influence Capello's thinking before he names his England squad on Sunday evening. “I think Shaun should be in the squad,” Hughes said. “Since he's come back to City he's been playing with a smile on his face. He's one of those players who needs to have the feeling that he is wanted and he is going to play a big part in the fortunes of this club.

“If it is not to be this time, maybe because he has just started playing regularly again, it certainly will be in the new year, [[and]] if he maintains this form, I would imagine he will be one of the first to be picked by Capello.”

Hughes knows David Bentley, the Tottenham Hotspur winger, from the time they spent together at Blackburn Rovers and has been impressed by Theo Walcott, of Arsenal, but the City manager rates Wright-Phillips just as highly. “He's got more experience than those two and he's had experience of winning trophies at Chelsea,” Hughes said. “He has hit the ground running and I'm sure it will continue.”

And finally, the Sun tell us...

'Hatton to be Xmas hit man'

BOXING sensation RICKY HATTON is turning his hand to hits of a different kind – and releasing a pop single.
The Manchester fighter hopes to land a knock-out blow on the Christmas charts with Hi Ho Ricky Hatton — based on the 1967 UK smash Hi Ho Silver Lining.

The Hitman and his comedian pal JOEY BLOWER have rewritten the lyrics of JEFF BECK’s song and it has been played at arenas in the build-up to Ricky’s clashes.

But now Ricky and Joey are heading into the studio to record the track properly and release it in December.

And they want to rope in a host of Ricky’s celeb mates, including NOEL GALLAGHER, to work on it.

A Hitman pal revealed: “Ricky wants to get all his famous pals on board, like Noel and some of the Manchester City players. It might be tricky to get Noel to sing but he thinks he’ll happily be on the video.

Nutter

“It will be a great laugh. A bit like the TONY CHRISTIE Amarillo thing. It should do really well, especially in Manchester.”

Ricky doesn’t mind sending himself up for the way he piles on the pounds between fights.

The current lyrics to Hi Ho Ricky Hatton — which may be altered slightly for the Crimbo market — see him at his self-deprecating best. The track goes:

They say he’s never seen a salad, that’s why he’s fat.

He’s never been on a diet, and he’ll drink to that.

He likes his pies and pasties, a pint of Guinness or two.

He’s the one they call Ricky Fatton, tonight he’s here for you.

All together now, readers:

And it’s hi ho Ricky Hatton, he ate all the pies.

He’s never seen a salad, he ate all the pies.

Meanwhile, Noel, who broke three ribs when a nutter attacked him on stage in Canada last month, has made sure nothing similar can happen when OASIS kick off their UK tour in Liverpool next Tuesday.

He has invited light welterweight champ Ricky to join his backstage entourage for the gig — and possibly even to introduce the band on stage.

Ricky’s sure to do a better job than the Canadian security guys — just the thought of him would put me off getting on stage.