Man City to choose temporary home

Manchester City are likely to make a decision by the end of this week over their UEFA Cup qualifying round venue.

City are due to play the home leg on either July 17 or 31 after being granted entry to the competition through the Fair Play League.

However, new boss Mark Hughes is already aware the game will not be played at Eastlands because the pitch is booked in for relaying after a Bon Jovi concert in June.

Various options have already been looked at, with Huddersfield’s Galpharm Stadium and Preston’s Deepdale among those apparently discarded.

Currently, the option of playing at Oakwell, Barnsley’s home stadium, would appear the most likely but Blues officials are stressing there has been no firm decision, although a resolution is not far off.

City will learn their opponents on June 27, although as they top the rankings for the northern European section, they should have little to fear, even if opposition from Lithuania, the Republic of Ireland or Iceland will be battle-hardened from domestic combat.

Providing Hughes’ men are successful, the test in the second qualifying round will be slightly harder, with Swedish outfit Djurgardens among the potential opponents.

But with Hertha Berlin, FC Copenhagen and even Queen of the South among those avoided, plus potential Intertoto Cup winners such as Aston Villa, even a two-legged tie in August should present few problems.

By then, Hughes will certainly have made his mark with a number of new signings, although nothing is thought to be imminent despite a mass of names being linked the the Blues, including Blackburn defender Christopher Samba.