Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill has hinted that record signing Asamoah Gyan is unlikely to return to the club.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has attempted some reverse psychology in the Premier League mind games battle by heaping praise on title rivals Manchester United.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted England midfielder Jack Wilshere is “down” and hinted that he is losing his race against time to return for the European Championships in June.

Blackburn boss Steve Kean is confident Rovers have more than enough time to get out of trouble as they bid to end a run of four Premier League defeats at Swansea today.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson admits the Premier League title race is back on. Last weekend it seemed to be in the bag for United, who had opened up an eight-point lead with six games remaining over a Manchester City side imploding under Roberto Mancini.

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish does not want his players to be afraid of tackling Ashley Young and his Manchester United team-mates tomorrow.

Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi will miss Italy’s Euro 2012 campaign after suffering another serious knee injury.

Midfielder Leon Osman has warned Everton against thinking today’s encounter against Liverpool is their final.

Matt Busby once wrote in Soccer At The Top: “If anything is to be gained from football, it is to be gained bywinning or losing with dignity. If there are nations whose people so losethemselves in their emotions as to encourage the thug and the cheat they can be educated only by example.”

Fabrice Muamba will attend tonight’s Barclays Premier League match between Bolton and Tottenham at the Reebok Stadium.

City proved they were the top dogs in Manchester last night.

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson last night accused Manchester City counterpart Roberto Mancini of “badgering” the officials after the pair clashed on the touchline during last night’s derby at the Etihad Stadium.

Hype, hyperbole and hyperventilation; expect it all at the Etihad Stadium tonight because, as Manchester United winger Nani has explained, an entire season can be decided in 90 minutes and that makes the 2012 Manchester derby potentially the greatest in the fixture’s 131-year history.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini claims there have been no nerves in the build-up to tonight’s crunch derby against Manchester United.

The life of a great football team is brief: as the great Hungarian coach Bela Guttmann observed, “the third season is fatal”.

If Pep Guardiola believed it was so hard presiding over the fates of Lionel Messi and company at the Nou Camp in recent weeks, he should have tried exchanging places with fellow Barcelona fan Roberto Martinez.

The Spanish team may not be the only European champions Ireland face this summer.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is targeting a third-place Premier League finish to fulfil Mike Ashley’s unlikely Champions League dream.

Alex Ferguson will send Manchester United into battle on Monday knowing he is attempting to condemn Manchester City fans to the worst day of their lives.

Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry accepts there is no hiding from the pressure of Monday’s pivotal clash against Manchester United.