City boss says midfield ace could return this weekend…MARK HUGHES has revealed that he would have absolutely no qualms about handing Giannelli Imbula a return to the starting line-up this weekend.
Hughes: ‘Imbula In The Frame’
Premier League
Premier League
New contract offer for Wilshere
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says that the club will offer Jack Wilshere a new contract. The England midfielder has temporarily left the Emirates Stadium, having joined Bournemouth on a season-long loan.
Conte: European absence a help
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte says the club’s absence from European competition has helped them to the top of the Premier League. The side have a one-point lead over Liverpool and Manchester City and can keep their place at the top with victory over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Guardiola hit by Kompany blow
Pep Guardiola has been hit by injuries ahead of this weekend’s trip to Burnley in the Premier League, especially a new setback for Vincent Kompany. Manchester City travel to Turf Moor on Saturday with skipper Kompany definitely missing while there are also doubts over Sergio Aguero and Pablo Zabaleta.
City ace Marko Arnautovic says more relaxed approach has improved his game
MARKO ARNAUTOVIC says he is reaping the rewards on the pitch after taking pressure off of his own shoulders over the past 12 months. The Austrian international enjoyed his most consistent campaign in professional football last season, as his 11 league goals helped the Potters to a third successive ninth place finish.
City focus on league matters
Pep Guardiola has urged his Manchester City players to focus on the Premier League in the next few months, having made sure of progress in the Champions League. A 1-1 draw away to Borussia Monchengladbach was enough to ensure that the Citizens will finish in second place in Group C, although Barcelona’s 2-0 win at Celtic means that top spot is now beyond the reach of City.
Barton training with Clarets
Former midfielder Joey Barton is training at Burnley once more, Clarets boss Sean Dyche has confirmed. The experienced Barton was Burnley’s player of the year last season as they secured a return to the Premier League. However, he then opted to take on a new challenge by moving to Scotland to join Rangers as they embarked on their return to top-flight football north of the border.
Ranieri: League form will turn
Claudio Ranieri does not have any doubts that Leicester City will arrest their worrying league form now that the Champions League is on the back burner. The champions face Middlesbrough at the Kingpower Stadium on Saturday having won just three of their 12 games thus far in the defence of their crown.
Leicester have already lost twice as many games as they did in t
McNair adds to Black Cats woes
Sunderland have suffered another major blow to their hopes of Premier League survival, with Paddy McNair set to miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury. The 21-year-old Northern Ireland international, who can play in either defence or midfield, only joined the Black Cats from Manchester United in August and made 12 appearances before being struck down by injury.
Stoke city: Bowen ‘s Afellay Hope
Assistant boss says midfielder’s New Year return will be a huge bonus… MARK BOWEN has revealed that Ibrahim Afellay is closing in on a first-team retun but refused to put a concrete date on his first-team comeback.
The talented Dutchman has been sidelined for the past seven months after sustaining a serious knee injury in training ahead of the fixture with Manchester City last season.
However, after undergoing rehabilitation outside of the UK, the 30-year-old is now back at Clayton Wood working towards a potential return in the New Year.
Speaking to BBC Radio Stoke, the Potters assistant boss said: “He’s been training with the group but in situations when there’s been no contact.
“If we’ve had games then he’s been playing on both sides so he doesn’t get any tackles.
“Tuesday was a step forward because he was training with the group and we could see all his attributes that delighted us last year.