Injury-plagued Claudio Reyna is on course for a long-awaited Manchester City first-team return after being lined up for a second-string outing on Friday.

Manchester United put their title challenge on the line at Eastlands knowing local rivals City could not have any more derby day incentive than the opportunity of ending it for good.

Roy Keane has admitted it is "crunch time" in Manchester United’s pursuit of honours.

Typically though, the Cork-born star is not entirely satisfied with his contribution, although he did admit the balance between playing matches and rest is better this season than it was 12 months ago, when he became frustrated at the number of games he was missing.

Paul Bosvelt will find out “within a month” whether he will be offered a new one-year contract at Manchester City.

Chelsea 0 Man City 0

Chelsea 0 Man City 0

Manchester City 1 Newcastle United 1

Man City 2 Southampton 1

Chelsea began 2005 with a 1-0 win at Liverpool to remain clear of their rivals at the top of the Barclays Premiership.

Manchester City 1 West Brom 1

Manchester City 0 Tottenham 1

Portsmouth 1 Manchester City 3

Frustrated Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has left his misfiring strikeforce in no doubt there are no excuses for their current pitiful form.

Man City 1 Chelsea 0

Middlesbrough new boy Michael Reiziger insists he can add to his trophy haul despite passing up the chance to join Spanish champions Valencia.

Dick Advocaat has indicated he may quit as Holland coach after Euro 2004 following stinging personal criticism from Dutch fans and media during the tournament.

Dick Advocaat today summed up Holland’s daunting Euro 2004 dilemma with a huge understatement: “It’s a tricky situation.”

Ruud van Nistelrooy described himself as “sick, broken and miserable” after Holland’s surrendered a two-goal lead to allow the dynamic Czechs roar into the quarter-finals in the most exciting game of Euro 2004 to date.

Arjen Robben has been included in Holland’s 23-man squad for Euro 2004 after proving his fitness to coach Dick Advocaat.

Manchester City 5 Everton 1

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has blasted the sloppy defending that has almost certainly ended any hope of his team retaining their Premiership title.

Manchester United captain Roy Keane has once again criticised the commitment of some of his side’s younger players as the Red Devils prepare to face Leeds.

Man City 0 Birmingham 0

Tottenham 3 Manchester City 4

Feyenoord have revealed today that they have rejected an Arsenal bid for their young striker Robin van Persie.

Man City 1 Blackburn 1

Manchester City boss Kevin Keegan has hailed the resurrection of defender Richard Dunne.

Kevin Keegan is astounded by Ruud van Nistelrooy’s phenomenal goalscoring record – and insisted the Dutchman will get even better.

David Seaman has been passed fit to play in tomorrow’s 129th Manchester league derby.

Groclin 0 Man City 0

Man City 0 Leicester 3

Man City 1 Groclin 1

Southampton 0 Manchester City 2

Manchester City 6 Bolton 2

Lokeren 0 Manchester City 1 (Manchester City win 4-2 on aggregate)

HOLDERS France booked their place in next year’s European championship finals with a 2-0 away win over nearest Group One rivals Slovenia last night.

Blackburn 2, Man City 3

Charlton 0 Manchester City 3

Manchester City 5 Total Network Solutions 0

Manchester City midfielder Paul Bosvelt will miss the first two Premiership games of the season through suspension.

Kevin Keegan admits he is looking to add to his Manchester City midfield.

Manchester City have completed the signing of Dutch midfielder Paul Bosvelt, who has signed a two-year deal with the Barclaycard Premiership club.

Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer will go into tomorrow night’s do-or-die Champions League clash with Feyenoord fearing that the ghosts of the past will come back to haunt him.