International injury scares looked at |
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'Manchester City lose Robinho and Martin Petrov to international duty injuries'
Manchester City have been rocked by a double blow after Robinho and Martin Petrov picked up injuries while on international duty.
Robinho will be assessed by City 's medical staff at Carrington today after limping out of Brazil's World Cup qualifier against Colombia with a thigh strain.
And Petrov has already had treatment on the knee injury he picked up during Bulgaria's clash with Georgia.
Boss Mark Hughes hopes to patch the pair up for City's match against Newcastle at St James' Park on Monday and Robinho's injury is not believed to be serious.
Hughes revealed: "Robinho is travelling back from South America and is due back with us on Friday, so we will have to wait before we can take a look at him and make a judgment on his injury."
Robinho admitted that his performance before he went off left much to be desired as his side struggled to a 0-0 draw with Colombia at the Maracana. The £32.5million striker said: "I was knocked on the thigh and it hurt a lot at the time. The area where I was fouled became inflamed so I thought it was better to ask for a substitution.
"I didn't do anything during the game. I only had one shot on goal and I did not create any chances. I was horrible. I didn't do anything right.
"Maybe I should have left the pitch even earlier."
Large sections of the crowd made clear their disapproval at the final whistle and Robinho felt the fans were right to react in the way they did.
He admitted: "People pay for the tickets and have the right to whistle at us."
The point moved Brazil above Argentina and into second place in the South American qualifying zone, six points adrift of leaders Paraguay.
Hughes had feared Petrov would break down again as he had only just recovered from a hamstring injury, also picked up on Bulgaria duty in August.
The City boss said: "Martin's already with us and being assessed, but we need to wait to find out if he will be available for Monday."
Meanwhile, City are poised to dump £5.2m flop Felipe Caicedo. The Ecuadorian, 20, was only signed in January, during Sven Goran Eriksson's reign, but has made just 10 substitute appearances in the Premier League and has failed to score a single goal.
Now Hughes has deemed the striker surplus to requirements, with Caicedo as far down as seventh in the pecking order following the summer signings of Brazilian stars Jo and Robinho.
Paris St Germain have been linked with a loan, which could then be made permanent.
Although the Guardian say about our Brazilian star...
'Robinho fit to play after injury scare'
Robinho is expected to be fit for the trip to Newcastle United on Monday despite hobbling out of Brazil's World Cup qualifier against Colombia yesterday.
He was substituted a little over an hour into the 0-0 draw at the Maracana stadium following a strong challenge. "I was knocked on the thigh and it hurt a lot at the time," he said. "The area where I was fouled became inflamed so I thought it was better to ask for a substitution."
Elsewhere, the Belfast Telegraph add...
'Man City and Northern Ireland star McGivern pins hopes on loan deal'
Ryan McGivern is ready to leave Manchester City in order to protect his place in the Northern Ireland squad.
The Newry-born teenager, however, isn’t about to quit Mark Hughes’ megabucks side for good.
Although McGivern has featured in three of Northern Ireland’s last five games, having been handed a surprise debut against Scotland in August, he has yet to even make the bench for City’s first-team.
Over 20 players have graduated from the Academy set-up at Eastlands and McGivern is in illustrious company when it comes to graduates who have made senior international appearances, having now followed in the footsteps of Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joey Barton and Micah Richards.
With no sign at the minute of having his name added to that list of players going through to the first-team and reserve games few and far between, the man who helped City’s Academy team lift the FA Youth Cup last season is now seeking a temporary departure.
“I’m not sure how far I am from coming into Mark Hughes’ plans,” said McGivern.
“I am looking to get out on-loan at some stage and take it from there, see what happens.
“Reserve games only come around every couple of weeks so my aim is to get a club sorted for going out on-loan for maybe the rest of the season and get some first-team football.
“I want to stay in the Northern Ireland squad and I can’t expect the manager to be picking me playing in the reserves every two weeks. I need to be playing somewhere every Saturday .”
Hughes will have millions to spend in January after splashing out £31million on Robiniho in January, but McGivern doesn’t see the youth set-up at the club, which has been so prosperous, being ignored.
“The Academy is one of the best in the country and the manager has said that he will still be looking for players to come through.
“If they are good enough I am sure he will give them a chance.
“Hopefully I am one of them..”
There is little doubt that Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington is a big fan of the 18-year-old.
It is just three months since he was part of the under-20 team that lifted the Milk Cup and now he has three caps, with the last two coming in World Cup qualifiers, albeit in unaccustomed positions.
“George McCartney is doing a good job, so I’ll just wait for my time to come,” said McGivern.
“Wednesday night was a bit like Saturday when I came on at left-wing where I haven’t played for a while.
“Again the manager asked me to do a job at right-back where I haven’t played. I was just happy to go in and play and get another cap.”
Looking ahead to Monday night's trip to the Toon, the Sunderland Echo (of all places) tells us...
'Kinnear to unleash Oba on Man City'
Joe Kinnear says he could turn to Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins after Michael Owen was ruled out of Monday's clash with Man City.
Kinnear said: "Oba's an option, and we've stepped up his training.
"We were planning to keep him back but because this has happened he is in the first team squad, he did well yesterday and exceptionally well today as well.
"He hasn't needed any other further treatment on his knee so that's a good sign. He is in my mind to be involved in the match against Man City."
Other options for Kinnear in attack are Spanish striker Xisco, who scored for his country's under-21 side this week, while Shola Ameobi is also in the frame.
Speaking on the general mood in the camp Kinnear said: "Everything has been good since Everton (a 2-2 draw) we feel that we are on the up.
"People have been bright and bubbly even though we have had eight people away with their countries.
"We have been a bit thin on the ground. Nevertheless it has been enjoyable and people have been working extremely hard.
"We're hoping that all of the hard work we have put in, we will get a few players back for the Man City game.
"That's what we have been working hard on."
And finally, the Mirror reveal...
'Kiki Musampa set for Wrexham switch'
Former Manchester City winger Kiki Musampa is set for a shock switch to Blue Square Premier outfit Wrexham.
Musampa, 31, will sign a short-term deal as the Dutchman bids to attract interest from a League club.
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