Joe Hart is in the England squad for tonight’s game with Egypt and that call-up is thoroughly deserved after an excellent season on loan at Birmingham. Hart has played a key role in Alex McLeish’s team’s superb first season back in the Premier League. Defensively Birmingham have been outstanding with Hart a consistent figure between the sticks.

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Manchester City host Stoke for a place in the 6th round of the FA Cup this weekend with the home side strong favourites. This is hardly surprising considering Roberto Mancini’s team’s record at Eastlands this season. The Citizens have yet to be beaten at home in league or cup, a run that includes fourteen wins and three draws. In fact, City have won their last eight in a row at the City of Manchester Stadium, scoring 21 goals in the process and keeping four clean-sheets.

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Manchester City host Bolton tonight with Roberto Mancini’s side determined to bounce back from a disappointing defeat at Hull at the weekend. The match at the KC Stadium saw both Patrick Vieira and Adam Johnson make their City debuts as second-half substitutes but it was the defence rather than the midfield that struggled against the Tigers.

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Hull picked up an invaluable point in midweek against league leaders Chelsea which will give them belief that they can do the same if not better against Manchester City this weekend. Phil Brown’s team have already drawn once with City back at Eastlands in November so shouldn’t be overawed by Roberto Mancini’s star-studded outfit. That draw saw Jimmy Bullard produce the celebration of the season and the sooner he returns to the side the better for the Tigers’ survival hopes.

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Manchester City’s new signing Adam Johnson is one hell of a player and extremely talented. Lots of clubs have targeted him in the past for his ability to beat his full-back and get down the wings. However, I am surprised he has gone to City as he may well struggle to get a game. He has both Craig Bellamy and Martin Petrov in front of him on the left and even if he switched to the right, there’s Shaun Wright-Phillips. Therefore, this signing is almost a case of City getting him to stop their rivals nabbing him.

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Manchester City are reportedly in negotiations with Borussia Dortmund today in view to signing their 6 ft 4 Serbian centre-half Neven Subotic before the transfer window closes. In fact, delegations from Eastlands are attempting to bring in a number of new recruits with Middlesbrough’s Adam Johnson and Real Madrid’s Fernando Gago all targeted.

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Portsmouth battled back from one goal down to pick up a point against West Ham in midweek. Although this was not the three points the club desperately needs, it proves that despite the much publicised problems off the pitch, the players are still fighting as a team on the pitch. Players can be a selfish bunch at times and it would be quite easy for some to lose their desire and blame off the field problems for poor displays on the pitch. However, credit must go to Avram Grant and his team for continuing to put in the effort and fighting hard for the club’s future.

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Manchester City take on rivals Manchester United at Eastlands in their Carling Cup semi-final first leg and for me, United are there for the taking.

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Reports in both England and Italy today claim that Manchester City have moved ahead of Tottenham in the chase for AC Milan’s disgruntled former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini. The 25-year-old has endured a disappointing time in Italy since moving on a free transfer in 2008 as he’s struggled to maintain a first team place and often been forced to play as a full-back.

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Manchester City’s excellent start under new coach Roberto Mancini faces a stiff challenge this weekend when they face a rejuvenated Everton team which has pulled off some surprise results of late. David Moyes’ team have drawn 3-3 at Chelsea, 2-2 against Tottenham and were extremely unlucky not to win when they drew 2-2 at the Emirates last weekend. They may not be picking up many wins but remain 6 games unbeaten in the league which suggests that David has got his side back to being hard to beat.

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