Manchester City striker Valeri Bojinov is poised to seal a loan move to Parma.

Blackburn midfielder Keith Treacy has joined Sheffield United on loan until January.

Mark Hughes is preparing to ditch at least a dozen members of last season’s Manchester City squad.

Bulgaria 1 Republic of Ireland 1

Bulgaria boss Stanimir Stolinov sent his big guns into battle with the Republic of Ireland as he looked to rekindle hopes of World Cup qualification.

BULGARIA’S difficulty is Ireland’s opportunity — or should that be the other way around?

Giovanni Trapattoni will send his Republic of Ireland team into World Cup battle in Bulgaria tomorrow night intent only on victory.

Republic of Ireland skipper Robbie Keane has put his defenders on red alert to the threat Dimitar Berbatov poses to their World Cup dreams.

Sean St Ledger is set to continue his rise from TV reality show bad boy to established international defender when the Republic of Ireland face Bulgaria in their pivotal World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

FOR footballers, a 30th birthday is nothing to celebrate. The anniversary bestows a veteran status on even the sprightliest of players and forces them to confront a life bereft of the weekly adrenaline shot of competitive action.

Richard Dunne insists all the pressure will be on Bulgaria when the Republic of Ireland arrive in Sofia for Saturday’s crunch World Cup qualifier.

MANCHESTER UNITED star Dimitar Berbatov was among 17 overseas-based players named by Bulgaria coach Stanimir Stoilov yesterday in his squad for next month’s World Cup Group Eight qualifier against Ireland.

UNCERTAINTY has become the natural state of things since the City of Manchester stadium was transformed into ‘Middle Eastlands’ last summer, but at least someone at Manchester City appears to be sleeping easily.

Tottenham 2 Manchester City 1

Manchester City 3 Blackburn 1

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has confirmed striker Craig Bellamy is almost certainly out for the rest of the season because of a knee injury.

Man City 1 Fulham 3

Daniel Sturridge and Benjani Mwaruwari could return for Manchester City at Arsenal on Saturday, with Michael Johnson and Martin Petrov not far behind them to give the Blues a timely lift.

IN THE week leading up to Saturday night’s game at Croke Park, there had been mixed signals coming from Bulgarian coach Stanimir Stoilov.

Aiden McGeady handed the Republic of Ireland a major boost when he was declared fit for tonight’s World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria.

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes believes the return of striker Valeri Bojinov after serious injury problems is a major boost for the club.

Man City 1 Sunderland 0

Valeri Bojinov was handed his first Manchester City start since August 2007 as Mark Hughes’ men looked to ease their lingering fears of relegation by beating Sunderland at Eastlands.

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes expects Brazilian striker Jo to return a better player once his loan deal with Everton expires at the end of the season.

BULGARIAN manager Stanimir Stoilov has recalled several experienced internationals for the crucial World Cup qualifiers against Ireland and Cyprus.

ASHLEY YOUNG is backing Aston Villa to put their recent mini-slump behind them as they resume their bid for a Champions League spot.

Brazil midfielder Anderson may have played himself into Manchester United’s Carling Cup final squad with a reserve team run-out against local rivals Manchester City last night.

Luckless Manchester City striker Valeri Bojinov has hit the comeback trail again.

Shaun Wright-Phillips misses Manchester City’s Barclays Premier League match at Portsmouth tomorrow as he starts a three-match ban imposed retrospectively by the FA for his kick at Rory Delap during the defeat at Stoke at the end of January.

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is hoping Micah Richards will be fit for Sunday’s visit of Stoke.

ITALY have been given some welcome news ahead of today’s World Cup qualifier against Montenegro with Gennaro Gattuso, Daniele De Rossi and Giuseppe Rossi all passed fit to play.

Mark Hughes reported no new injury concerns after Manchester City’s UEFA Cup qualifier against FC Midtjylland as he quickly turns his attention to Sunday’s trip to Sunderland.

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is short of options in attack for Sunday's Premier League match against West Ham.

MANCHESTER CITY striker Valeri Bojinov has suffered another injury setback and is facing a further six months on the sidelines.

Manchester City striker Valeri Bojinov has suffered another injury setback and is facing a further six months on the sidelines.

Aston Villa 4 Manchester City 2

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes will be without skipper Richard Dunne for his side’s Barclays Premier League opener against Aston Villa through suspension.

Celtic 1 Man City 1

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has confirmed his club are in talks to bring Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim to Eastlands.

Manchester City goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson has been recalled for the Barclays Premier League match at Middlesbrough on Sunday.

Richard Dunne is expected to return to the Manchester City defence for Sunday’s Barclays Premier League trip to Anfield after missing the 3-2 defeat to Fulham with a hamstring injury.

Manchester City striker Valeri Bojinov made his comeback for the reserves following a eight-month absence with a knee injury.

Manchester City striker Valeri Bojinov is scheduled to make his comeback for the reserves tomorrow.

Manchester City midfielder Elano is fit to feature in tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash at Reading.