City skipper's fitness battle

chris bailey

April 23, 2008

RICHARD Dunne has an even money chance of being fit to lead City in the final home game of the season against Fulham this weekend.

The Blues skipper limped out of the action in the second-half against Portsmouth on Sunday with a hamstring problem.

A subsequent scan has proved to be a tweak and not a tear and Sven-Goran Eriksson has his fingers crossed that the Republic of Ireland giant will be able to play.

"He's 50-50 but if he cannot play against Fulham he will be ready for the weekend after against Liverpool," reported he manager.

Eriksson also confirmed that he had recalled young defender Shaleum Logan from a successful loan spell at promotion- chasing Stockport County.

"It is unfortunate for Stockport but we had no choice. After the game against Portsmouth we had only three fit defenders and he is our player and we had to take him back."

Logan, who played twice in the Carling Cup earlier in the season for the first team, is likely to be battling Jihai Sun for the right-back berth against the Cottagers. The China international and Didi Hamann have both recovered from the illness that kept them out of the 3-1 home win over Pompey.

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SaggyUlrika (23/04/2008 at 08:48)

Can Benji play FB with Elano at RB???!!!!

Bouncebackability (23/04/2008 at 08:59)

He will be fit but your money on it !!!!!

COME ON BARCA SEND THEM PACKING !!!!!!!!

jerseyblue, jersey (23/04/2008 at 09:03)

I think it would be worth giving Shaleum a start......

COME ON BARCA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kevcod, Worthing (23/04/2008 at 09:07)

Careful, Elano will start whining that Sven doesn't let him play at full back soon.
That Jo chap, I would find it a little worrying that we go for another Brazilian, after our experience with the effort/application of our "star" performer this season, well about 6 weeks of it, when he could be bothered. Plus, if we are going for a 6ft 5in forward ,who weighs about 4 stone, I'd rather have Crouch, at least he knows the English game, understands that you don't get a 4 month break from November- March and would be grateful to get a regular game. Also, like him or not, look at his goal scoring record for England and in club football, he's a lot better than he's given credit for...and would be half the price of Jo. Him, Owen, Sidwell, Bridge,SWP, N'zogbia..a back bone of players who understand the British game.What do you think, Brothers and Sisters?
Mind you, I guess Dr T will probably get his advisers to try to sign Ronny, Pele, Eusabio, Bobby Moore and Puskas!

Jerry, Whalley Range., Manchester (23/04/2008 at 09:18)

Don't risk him. Save him for Liverpool.

DURABLuE, M14 (23/04/2008 at 09:26)

Dunnie will be fit, cos he's an absolute legend and would play with one leg if he could.

Come on City!!!

p.s.
MUEN have managed to find a photo of him which looks like he had 10 pints last night and turned up to training after very little sleep...good work.not.

Big Mal, Manchester (23/04/2008 at 09:35)

Kevcod - I know what you mean about Elano - I just wish we could go back to the good old days and have people like DaMarcus Beasley, Willo Flood and Jeffy Whitley in midfield. I think Elano is probably the worst signing this club has ever made and how we've managed to achieve our highest ever Prem points haul with him, clumsy Corluka, pansy Petrov and flimsy Fernandez I'll never know .... Honest !

Bouncebackability (23/04/2008 at 09:37)

Yeah why is it that the picture of Dunnie looks terrible his eyes look like P/holes in the Snow !!!!!! come on joker journos find the picture where he is showing his CLASS against the Scousers or the Rags tut tut !!!!!

John-Thai sandwich brigade (23/04/2008 at 09:37)

Sven was at Anfield last night, so i wonder who he was watching,?!!

answers to MEN please, so they can compile a BIG list of players we will be signing this summer.

in alphabetical order please,
makes it easier for their staff to write down the names.

Bluereed (23/04/2008 at 09:49)

No no no,let him recover so we can sell him to the barcodes in summer he,s not good enough for the next level of city's transition,as a defender he's ok but his distribution is awfull for a centre half.

Peter Beagrie`s beagle (23/04/2008 at 09:53)

The Dunniemonster will be fit, no problem and it`s got to be Shaleum in the side he is class, giving us more option going forward.
On another point regarding the end of season tour of Asia, why is it the first team and only SOME of the youth cup winning side going? Sven should take them all as a reward for what they have achieved!
CTID

Bluereed (23/04/2008 at 09:54)

Kevcod, Worthing

Good on ya mate finally someone with a brain who can also see that Elano has had maybe four good games for city this season,the rest of the season we may have started the games with ten men,if we can get our money back SELL HIM.

blue moon risin (23/04/2008 at 09:57)

Rather sven did a double raid for santa cruz and bently than go for jo, who's unproven. If we'd have pipped blackburn to him just think where we'd be now. yep, in the top six! Also think sidwell could be a good signing.
But what the heck do i know,
best leave it to sven i think!

Raindazed (23/04/2008 at 10:02)

I'm with Jerry.
We should save him for Liverpool.

The Iceman Cometh, Manchester (23/04/2008 at 10:05)

... rest him, save him for the two away games. As for Barca, you will not see the dungers offered at 2/1 very often ... worth a saver (go's against the grain, i know!) ...

woodmeister, onboard the millenium falcon (23/04/2008 at 10:09)

why i sthere a clamour for all these overated english players, sidwell, crouch etc, im not saying they are bad but if they are not good enough for arsenal and chelsea team (sidwell) and liverpool(crouch) albeit torres, then i dont want them at city unless its on our bench, take a chance, jo top scorer in russian league and missed half of it due to injury

Bluereed (23/04/2008 at 10:09)

Kevcod, Worthing

Oh i forgot prepare yourself for a backlash for having your opinion re Elano mate.

Bouncebackability (23/04/2008 at 10:12)

Bluereed do you have anything close to a brain inside your skull How can you say Sell Dunny hes be the most consitent performa for 3 years id hate to see where we be without the COLOSUS that is RD ok yeah makes the Odd mistake but that dont make him a bad player him an Micah are one of the Best Centre back partnerships in the EPL get a grip of yourself and stay of the White Lightning !!!!
As for Elano how many assist how many goals how GOOD is his Eye for a pass.

DID YOUR MOTHER NEVER TELL YOU IF YOU HAVE NOTHING NICE TO SAY DON'T SAY ANYTHING !

marc (23/04/2008 at 10:15)

kevcod.. would def take sidwell, brifge and swp... not sure about the others.. however, Jo (should we sign him) would be an unbelievable aquisition.. for those who have seen him in action, will see despite being 6'3 hes very quick and direct...and very good in the air...crouch whilst being a good technical player, lacks pace and despite his height, is actually quite poor in the air. Valencia from wigan would be a great signing

DJ, Chorlton (23/04/2008 at 10:19)

Usually I would suggest resting him. But of all games Fulham is one where we really need him to combat the aerial threat from Brian Mcbride. We need a defender like Dunne for this game. If he can keep McBride in his pocket then Fulham have nothing going forward.

Pablo 1, SW14 (23/04/2008 at 10:20)

Save him for Liverpool. Thought Sam Williamson did great on Sunday when he came on. And keep Elano at right back with Shaleum sub. It worked against Pompey, his distribution was very good turning defence into attack very quickly. Go on Sven dont be scared.

Reidus, Cambridge (23/04/2008 at 10:29)

John-Thai, Sven was at Anfield because we play liverpool soon. Also, he can go to any match for free that he wants so why not shoot down the motorway than sit in his £1500 a night hotel room.

Fulham will be a tough tough game. Its a must win for them and they have been solid of late against Reading and Liverpool (where Keller gifted Pool the points). I can see it being a draw, imperative that we score first.

Bluereed (23/04/2008 at 10:29)

Bouncebackability

Well you are a very ANGRY little individual are'nt you,this forum is open to debate and its for everyone to have an opinion thats what makes this country great,if you don't like my opinion then fine but take this under advisement you jerk "SHUT UP YOU FOOL".

Dobsy, Manchester (23/04/2008 at 10:33)

KevCod you're the single most foolish member of a forum I've ever seen. Sell Elano? We have so many better options in the squad such as . . . oh, I thought not.

Bouncebackability (23/04/2008 at 10:33)

Kevcod (FISH)

You say buy owen
I say injury prone.

you say buy N'zogbia
I say better that Petrov (NO)

You say Crouch
I say Slouch !

You say Bridge
I say chelski wont sell

You say Sidwell
I say overated to the MAX

You say SWP
I say dont go back !

Now this is the List of players with Class
Robinho, Diego , Podolski , Bresciano , Lahm , Goofy , Chileni , Kompany , Gattuso , Ibrahimovic , Bentley , and all Within our financial Budget Go Get Um FRANK !!!!!!

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