Wednesday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Silva vows to fit in at Eastlands
DAVID SILVA has swept aside speculation that he wants to return to Spain — and has vowed to get fit enough to cope with the physical demands of the Premier League.
Silva, 24, has struggled to adapt to the English game after reporting back late for pre-season training following Spain's World Cup win.
He has been playing catch-up for fitness and his slightly-built frame also needed to get used to the physical nature of the Premier League.
As a result, Silva has been restricted to just 16 minutes of Premier action this season.
And, while he was in Roberto Mancini's starting line-up for the two-legged Europa League qualifier against Timisoara, the £24million buy from Valencia is yet to impress in a City shirt.
There have even been some suggestions from Spain that Silva is missing life at home and wants to return.
He dismisses that, even if he accepts the transition is proving to be a slow one.
He said: "I am getting there, just more slowly than I would have liked. It's not just about playing games, it's about getting more training sessions under your belt — something I have been able to do more of lately."
He said: "Physically, I am feeling better day by day. I need to get a few more minutes on the pitch to get to optimum fitness levels and I am sure that will happen with so many games coming up."
As City look ahead to Thursday's Europa League group opener against Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, Silva is confident a good season is in prospect.
He said: "We have a great squad, but it takes time for all the new players to adapt and gel together. We will soon start climbing the table and I am sure we will have a very good season."

One player who will not be involved any time soon is striker Mario Balotelli. The Italy international, who signed for City in a blaze of publicity, suffered a knee injury on his debut in Romania that has ruled him out for a couple of months.
Boss Roberto Mancini has opted to let Balotelli begin his rehabilitation in Italy, but it is likely to be November before he makes a first-team return.

Milner tells City team-mates to ditch the glamour
James Milner has told his Manchester City team-mates they must learn to win ugly if they are to push for a top-four place.
City have dropped five points already this season after losing at Sunderland and drawing at home to Blackburn, despite dominating both games.
And Milner, who joined City from Aston Villa this summer in a £26million deal, admitted Roberto Mancini's side - who go to Wigan on Sunday - cannot afford similar slip-ups.
"As a team, we need to learn to win those games when you don't play so well," said Milner.
"We need to improve and keep moving forward as a team, and we'll get better and better as the season progresses.
"It might take time for us to play our best football, but hopefully we can get results while we're getting to that stage and keep moving forward step by step.
"Teams are winning games and Chelsea have started the season very strongly, so you can't afford to lose too much ground.
"We need to pick up results when not playing well, and once we get that bit of luck in front of goal I'm sure the goals will start flying in.
"The more we play together the better we will get at breaking teams down.
"And the more time we get together, the more you get to know instinctively about who is making what runs."
Milner also admitted it will take time for him to settle in at City, despite making an impressive start in his first three games for his new club.
"When you come to a new club you just want to get out on the field and play, because that's where you really settle in," said Milner.
"You need to get on with the football, and there's no danger of that not happening, because we have a lot of games coming up in the next few weeks."

City deal on cards for SWP
MANCHESTER CITY are to re-open talks with Shaun Wright-Phillips over a new £70,000-a-week deal.
The England winger has two years left on his contract but initial negotiations broke down over the length of a new one.
Wright-Phillips, 29 next month, was keen to sign for five years.
But City were unwilling to commit to such a deal because of his age.
His future was the subject of speculation last month but now relations have taken an upturn and the two parties are poised to hold fresh discussions.
Wright-Phillips took a pay cut to rejoin City from Chelsea two years ago before Sheikh Mansour bought them.
He will be offered a four-year deal.

TRANSFER BOLLOX
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has earmarked Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta as the man he wants to replace Cesc Fabregas - if the Arsenal captain moves to Barcelona in the future. talkSPORT

Fulham are bracing themselves for Arsenal to reignite their interest in keeper Mark Schwarzer by lining up a cut-price move for Crystal Palace's Julian Speroni. Daily Star

Former Manchester United forward Giuseppe Rossi has ruled out a return to the Premier League, saying he wants to remain in Spain with Villarreal. The Italian was a reported target of Tottenham this summer. talkSPORT

Leicester have pulled the plug on a proposed £750,000 deal for Hull City centre-half Kamil Zayatte after problems with the Guinea international's medical. Daily Mirror

Ex-West Brom midfielder Enzo Maresca is eager for a return to England now he is a free agent following his release by Greek side Olympiakos. talkSPORT

Blackpool are plotting a January transfer window move for Portsmouth striker David Nugent after narrowly missing out on the former England international this summer. Daily Mirror

Kilmarnock are set to snap up Portuguese striker Rui Miguel on a one-year deal. The former CSKA Sofia player has been training with the Rugby Park outfit. Daily Record

OTHER BOLLOX
Former France and Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly is being lined up to become the new manager of his native Ghana after Milovan Rajevac stepped down from the post. Daily Mail

Aston Villa have opened contract negotiations with England winger Ashley Young but the 25-year-old, a target of Tottenham during the summer, first wants to see how the club performs under new manager Gerard Houllier before being rushed into a new long-term deal. Daily Mirror

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has once again called for officials to protect his players after a tackle from Bolton's Paul Robinson resulted in an injury to midfielder Abou Diaby, ruling him out of the Gunners' Champions League game with Braga on Wednesday. Daily Mail

Reading keeper Mikkel Andersen wants to extend his loan at Bristol Rovers until the end of the season. Daily Mirror

Mexican midfielder Efrain Juarez has likened his Celtic boss Neil Lennon to former Rangers midfield enforcer Rino Gattuso. "He was the same type of player as Rino Gattuso - strong committed. And that is how he asks us to play," said Juarez. Daily Record

Turkish football is in shock after the manager of Mersin Idman Yurdu, Yuksel Yesilova, was stabbed six times by his elder brother during the team's match with Samsunspor in Turkey's second tier. In his statement to the police, Yesilova's assailant said "personal issues" were behind his actions. Daily Mail

Barcelona's world player of the year Lionel Messi will be taken by helicopter to a mystery London football pitch to take part in a kids' match as part of a competition organised by a football boot manufacturer on Wednesday. the Sun


more bollox soon ...