Blues leave dad Dunne behind

December 17, 2008

CITY captain Richard Dunne will miss the UEFA Cup match against Racing Santander tomorrow after his wife had a baby.

Dunne did not travel with the rest of the squad to Spain today as his wife gave birth to boy in the early hours of the morning.

Benjani Mwaruwari (hamstring) and Daniel Sturridge (Achilles) will miss the game because of injury while fellow striker Jo has not travelled because of a virus.

Provisional squad: Hart, Richards, Ball, Onuoha, Zabaleta, Ireland, Wright-Phillips, Robinho, Elano, Vassell, Garrido, Schmeichel, Fernandes, Caicedo, Hamann, Evans, Ben-Haim, Logan, Kompany, Berti.

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david7mcfc, Manchester (17/12/2008 at 12:19)

We might win then!

Ste , Cheshire (17/12/2008 at 12:20)

Looks like Evans up front then or god forbid Caciedo!

Nick,The Man Sheikh Mansour logs on to read., caterham,Surrey,(Blackley Born & Bred) (17/12/2008 at 12:21)

How will we cope without our leader Captain Donkey...I bet this news has gone down like a lead balloon in Santander who were hoping to get something out of the game,it would have been so much easier for them if CD was playing ,oh well Santander s loss must be Weat Broms gain!!

Esso Blue. Pie munching storm trooper, Planet Blueto (17/12/2008 at 12:22)

Congratulations and celebrations on your new arrival Richard.

wollongong blue. Aus (17/12/2008 at 12:22)

Congrats Dunney Monster!!

Hopefully a good chance for Nedum to step up.

Dublin Blue BRING BACK THE OLD CREST (17/12/2008 at 12:23)

Congratulations Richard now as any father who wifes is expecting understands its very hard to focus on anything including work coming up to that time so i fully expect Dunner to get back to his usual self very soon CTID

cityrno1, Littleborough (17/12/2008 at 12:25)

Great news. no defencive cock ups from this guy. No last minute back headers that nearly reach the corner flag and result in a goal and a loss, no 80 yard balls to no one, giving no one a chance. Love it. Well do mrs dunne, we could no have a chance of winning the group.

Dibble (17/12/2008 at 12:30)

what is Jo getting upto he's had several Viruses of the last month or so

Alec G Moonshiner, Kendal (17/12/2008 at 12:34)

Congratulations, Dunnie, but the wife wants to know are mum and lad OK, what did he weigh and watcha gonna call him?

frank clarke's guitar tutor, warrington (17/12/2008 at 12:37)

Dunne missing the game will be no big shakes as he is not top draw anyway. However really disappointed Jo and Sturridge both unfit. Can't believe how unlucky we have been this year with injuries. Never known a season like it. This season we have had;Bojiinov,Petrov,Johnson-all long term injuries who would have certainly made a difference. On top of that Robinho has been injured recently as has Sturridge and Jo.

Pete,Collyhurst, City of Manchester (17/12/2008 at 12:37)

Many congratulations to Richard Dunne and his wife on the birth of their baby, but quite honestly Manchester City FC is his employer; his bread and butter. I don't think there are many other professions where someone can just say they are not going to work. This is a VITAL game for our club. After the own goals and the dreadful header which cost us the game finally against Everton, you would think Richard would be "chomping at the bit" to put things right for the fans. Maybe we don't matter.

The Wright-Phillips Show, A Football Ground Near You (17/12/2008 at 12:50)

Jo ill again, or partying again?

nottingham_blue (17/12/2008 at 12:53)

tomorrow's game is a big game because finishing second in the group would be a huge blow. i think it's time we put robinho up front and played garrido on the left because evans looks like a championship player at best to me and caicedo isn't even that good

timmy, manchester (17/12/2008 at 12:55)

Santander must be cursing their luck. I hope Hughes does not stupidly play the best players, especially Ireland, tomorrow. The game at WBA is far more important.

gerry crainey is a legend!!! (17/12/2008 at 12:59)

thank god!!!

Phil Neal's Laxative, In a Stephen Ireland wonderland (17/12/2008 at 13:02)

Congratulations Dunney!

But by God, what a thin squad for the trip to Sunny Spain. Surely this is an opportunity – more correctly probably an obligation! – to give a few fringe players a run out. Maybe even the mystery man from Brazil might get a look-in, though more than likey from the bench if at all.

So how’s about…..

Hart

Logan Micah Ned Bally

SWP Ireland Vince Garrido

Evans Robinho

MALCOLM G, TAMESIDE (17/12/2008 at 13:13)

CAN WE STILL FINISH IN THE TOP 4

jerseyblue, jersey (17/12/2008 at 13:18)

Jees.......

Imagin him playing after sleepless nights now.......................!!

I already know everything (17/12/2008 at 13:23)

Anyone going to the Santander Game? I had to flog my ticket to a portugese collegue because I lost my job recently...

...are just the words I wish Hughes was saying today!

Really are bare bones aren't we. Looks like we will have our Championship class strikers out there tomorrow. I really would rather see Caicedo given a shot in the last chance saloon rather than Dazza. Someone sat near me on Sunday summed him up perectly when they said 'he's ok as long as you don't give hime the ball'. I agree, if Robby isn't fit put Vas out on the left so he chases and pressures them and his pace means they have to defend deeper, just never pass him the ball.

At the back I sincerely hope Neddy gets a look in, he's got the pace, brains and attitude to be a great defender, given the chance and a run of games.

Michelle Vonks Nose, Pembrokeshire (17/12/2008 at 13:24)

'quote from another site by Hughes on Blackburn - It is not easy when it happens. John Williams is a very shrewd chairman and if he feels it is right for the club, that is the decision he has made.

"I'm sure his next appointment will be one that he hopes will get them out of the situation the club is in."

Well Blackburn are only 5 points behind us. Either MH is very confident of getting us out of our own situation or even more worryingly he does not realise we are in one ourselves.
Fingers crossed now for the Jan window, I'm just a bit worried that our league position will have a detremental effect on trying to convince quality players of Diarra type to join us.
CTID

tony 1finga, wythenshawe (17/12/2008 at 13:25)

congrats to richard and his wife, on another note what channel is city on tommorow?

Co. Kildare Blue (17/12/2008 at 13:25)

Congratulations Richard Dunne, city legend and all round nice guy.

Makesure you get the youngster in city branded nappies from the off. City nappies and an Irish flag on the wall! Jobs a good un.

Ken Swarby, Lancashire (17/12/2008 at 13:58)

Congratualations Dunne. We look forward to seeing your son as a key figure in the centre of City's defence in about 18 years time.

west gorton fc, manchester (17/12/2008 at 14:08)

what worries me is mh is not considering any of our reserves i think they are top of the league and obviously have some grest potential.he tried a weaker team against psg with no kids and we was rubbish but he hasnt learnt,if i was j cassel i would be worried because i no longer see a future at mcfc for any youngster sad but true.he as left sturridge,dunne,jo,and still no spot for any youngsters.i would be thinking more of sundays game and i wouldnt risk any of our key players but mh as suprised me with a lot of hes desisions this year and i dont think its about to change.the heart as been ripped out of mcfc like it or not .it makes me feel sad
anyway 3 points on sunday would make me feel a whole lot better

John Quambo, salford (17/12/2008 at 14:13)

Michael Owen's not signing his contract renewal at newcastle so he can leave on a Bosman soon and hold to ransom some stupid club for extortionate wages. Guess who's gonna be the only club he comes to...

I can just imagine him at City. Please NO! He's a joker who's not been any good for 6 years and is probably worse than Jo if that's possible.

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