First to the Guardian, whose Manchester footballer reporter Jamie Jackson reckons there is good news on the injury front for City despite scares for goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and skipper Vincent Kompany.
He reports: “Manchester City are confident Claudio Bravo and Vincent Kompany will be available for their trip to Crystal Palace on 19 November following each player’s respective injury scares while on international duty.
“Bravo hurt a hip during Chile’s goalless draw with Colombia on Thursday in a World Cup qualifier in Barranquilla and limped off during the match. Afterwards the City goalkeeper said: “At this moment it bothers me a lot.”
“Although Bravo’s availability for Chile’s game with Uruguay on Tuesday in a second qualifier is in the balance, City believe the 33-year-old will be fit for the game at Selhurt Park.”
Kompany, meanwhile, will not feature in Belgium’s weekend game against Estonia as Belgium boss Roberto Martinez continues to take a cautious line with the defender’s return to full fitness.
A little closer to home at Wembley John Stones and Raheem Sterling helped England to a comprehensive 3-0 win over Scotland in World Cup qualifying Group F.
The performance of Sterling, as well as Liverpool’s Adam Lallana, caught the eye of Independent reporter Jack Pitt-Brooke.
He reflected: “Sterling and Lallana showed why they are the men to build around now.
“This was intelligent dangerous performance from Sterling, one that showed both his ability on the ball but also his instincts without it.
“He knows to find space, and when England’s tempo dropped in the middle of the first half Sterling picked it up again. He forced consecutive free-kicks, the first from the right, the second from the centre.
“The next time Sterling picked it up inside, his shot hit Grant Hanley, flying to Kyle Walker, who made the first goal.”
Finally, reports across a number of Italian websites suggest that City are monitoring young AC Milan goalkeeper Gigio Donnarumma.
Football website Calciomercato.com report that City are one of a number of clubs showing interest in the precocious young stopper, who at just 17 years of age has already played for the Italian national team.
We’ll be back same time, same place tomorrow!
