DESSIE HUGHES has made no secret of the regard in which he holds Minsk, his high-profile recruit off the level from John Oxx.

TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp thinks Manchester City’s expensively assembled squad is now better than that of all-conquering European champions Barcelona.

Quito De La Roque could bid for further big-race glory in the Growise Champion Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival.

Seconds Out

Striker Roque Santa Cruz returns to Blackburn’s squad for the visit of Newcastle tomorrow.

ROBERTO MANCINI has warned his Manchester City team that they must get rid of their superiority complex if they are to win the Barclays Premier League title.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has confirmed Roque Santa Cruz is almost certain to return to Blackburn within the coming days – and paved the way for Shaun Wright-Phillips’ departure as well.

Roberto Mancini believes Roque Santa Cruz deserves better than his current predicament at Manchester City and hopes the Paraguay international can find another club in January.

Robinho has told Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini he wants to play in either Italy or Spain.

MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini claims his club have finished their incredible spending spree after the arrival of England midfielder James Milner from Aston Villa was finally confirmed yesterday.

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes expects to be without Roque Santa Cruz until the end of August.

Manchester City’s new strikers Carlos Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz will sit out the friendly against Barnsley tomorrow.

Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland admits manager Mark Hughes’ summer recruitment drive has increased the pressure on existing members of the squad.

MARK HUGHES is prepared to play the waiting game in an attempt to snare Samuel Eto’o and Carlos Tevez.

Roque Santa Cruz has revealed the top-four ambition driving on Manchester City.

MANCHESTER CITY last night finally completed the signing of Roque Santa Cruz as Liverpool confirmed they have reached an agreement with Portsmouth to sign Glen Johnson.

ALEX Ferguson has admitted Manchester United’s defensive resolve has collapsed since their amazing clean-sheet record was brought to an end by Blackburn.

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce has ruled striker Roque Santa Cruz out of Paraguay’s forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.

“I WANT to give you a picture of our country, it’s about struggle, it’s about resistance. So welcome to Cuba!”

Sam Allardyce has admitted having considered German striker Kevin Kuranyi as a possible replacement for Roque Santa Cruz.

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has shattered Manchester City’s hopes of signing striker Roque Santa Cruz by claiming it is “a certainty” he will stay at Ewood Park for the rest of the season.

MANCHESTER CITY manager Mark Hughes will have to pay top price for Roque Santa Cruz if he wants to be reunited with the Blackburn striker.

BLACKBURN manager Sam Allardyce has resolved his issues with Roque Santa Cruz and has told the striker he wants him to keep him at the club.

Sunderland 1 Blackburn 2

Blackburn manager Paul Ince has warned Aston Villa off a January move for Roque Santa Cruz by insisting they do not have the money to prise him from Ewood Park.

Roque Santa Cruz’s agents have insisted the striker is happy at Blackburn and is not seeking a move to Manchester City.

BLACKBURN boss Paul Ince was delighted to “put to bed” all the “rubbish” concerning Roque Santa Cruz after the striker signed a new four-year contract at Ewood Park.

Roque Santa Cruz last night repaid Blackburn’s faith in him by signing a new four-year deal despite interest from more high-profile clubs.

BLACKBURN striker Roque Santa Cruz last night committed himself to the club by signing a new four-year deal.

MARK HUGHES hailed Roque Santa Cruz as one of the best natural finishers he has ever seen after the Paraguay striker ensured Derby entered the record books as the worst team in Premier League history.

Portsmouth 0 Blackburn 1

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes faces a striker injury crisis ahead of his side’s FA Cup third round clash with Coventry on Saturday.

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes insists there is no longer any bad blood between his side and Arsenal.

Roque Santa Cruz made a dramatic impact on his introduction to Premier League football only to be outshone by Blackburn’s exciting young prospect Matt Derbyshire.

Blackburn chairman John Williams is confident Benni McCarthy will remain at Ewood Park.

Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy believes Roque Santa Cruz faces a fight to claim a first team berth.

Roque Santa Cruz could be on the verge of a move to Blackburn after travelling to England with his representatives to talk to the Premier League club.

Bayern Munich are close to selling reported Blackburn and Manchester City target Roque Santa Cruz after the striker was left out of the team for a League Cup tie.

Steven Gerrard was one of several members of the first-team squad left behind as Liverpool flew out for their Champions League clash against Galatasaray in Istanbul.

The Paraguay squad claim they have the resources to defeat England in Saturday’s Group B opener, even though they live in fear of David Beckham and Peter Crouch.

BAYERN Munich say Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz will be sidelined for six months after sustaining a cruciate ligament injury in Saturday’s 2-1 win over FC Cologne.

Gianluigi Buffon’s agent, Silvano Martina, yesterday dismissed claims the Italian goalkeeper is heading to Old Trafford, claiming Real Madrid are the only club who could convince his client to leave Juventus.

A man who shot dead a Sikh petrol station owner in a racially motivated attack following the September 11 suicide hijackings, was today facing a possible death sentence after being convicted in the US of first-degree murder.

LEEDS manager Peter Reid is confident the universal language of football will not fall on deaf ears as Roque Junior looks to make his voice heard in the Premiership.