English roundup-Balotelli says 'sorry' to City

[ندعوك للتسجيل في المنتدى أو التعريف بنفسك لمعاينة هذه الصورة]
Brief news ahead of this weekend's Premier League matches (all times GMT).



* Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has apologised for his
reckless high tackle that earned a straight red card in Thursday's
Europa League match against Dynamo Kiev.

Manager Roberto Mancini had already branded his player's challenge
"stupid" and said he was unlikely to be in the squad to face Chelsea at
Stamford Bridge on Sunday (1600) but Balotelli sought to smooth things
over.

"It was not my intention to hurt anyone," he said on the club's website
([ندعوك للتسجيل في المنتدى أو التعريف بنفسك لمعاينة هذا الرابط] "The tackle was poor and I'm very sorry to my team
mates in particular that I got sent off so early in such an important
game."

His first-half dismissal left City with an uphill task to overturn a
2-0 deficit from the first leg and they could manage only a 1-0 win
which sent them out of the competition.

* Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has told his side to guard against
the break as he looks for his first ever win over Manchester City.

"All three games we lost against Man City [while I have been manager]
we have lost due to counter attacks," he said on the club's website
([ندعوك للتسجيل في المنتدى أو التعريف بنفسك لمعاينة هذا الرابط]

"Man City will try to do the same on Sunday, they are very dangerous in
counter attacks and obviously we want to avoid this. We do this by
maintaining a good balance on the pitch because we want to play our
football as well."

Fourth-placed Chelsea can go above third-placed City with a win.

* Rio Ferdinand has a long career ahead of him at Manchester United
despite his latest long-term injury set-back, manager Alex Ferguson
said.

The centre back suffered a calf injury in the warm-up for their 2-1
defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Feb. 5 and Ferguson warned on
Thursday he might play no further part this season.

"Rio has got plenty of years ahead of him," Ferguson said on the club
website ([ندعوك للتسجيل في المنتدى أو التعريف بنفسك لمعاينة هذا الرابط] ahead of the league leaders' game against
Bolton Wanderers on Saturday (1500 GMT).

"He's had a few injuries over the last few years which I'm sure are a concern for him, but he's still capable.

"He only needs to look at the example of Gary Neville. Gary suffered
with injuries in his 30s and made comebacks time and time again."



* West Bromwich Albion midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu has won his battle
to be fit for Saturday's visit of Arsenal (1500) after missing two weeks
with a calf problem, the club said on their website ([ندعوك للتسجيل في المنتدى أو التعريف بنفسك لمعاينة هذا الرابط]

Team mate Chris Brunt, however, is doubtful with a fever, while Graham
Dorrans will have a second scan on Wednesday on the ankle injury he
sustained two weeks ago.



* Tottenham Hotspur defender William Gallas is fit to face West Ham
United in Saturday's derby (1245) at White Hart Lane after fears he had
picked up a hamstring injury in training.

"William joined in (training) and he was fine," said manager Harry Redknapp after the Frenchman had limped off on Tuesday.

Wilson Palacios and Younes Kaboul (knee) plus Jonathan Woodgate and
Ledley King (groin) remain sidelined. Tom Huddlestone is back in
training after a long-term ankle injury.

West Ham manager Avram Grant has decisions to make in attack with
Frederic Piquionne hurt last weekend in the FA Cup defeat at Stoke City,
a match in which Demba Ba was rested.



* Aston Villa's 17-year-old midfielder Juan Serrano has signed a new
contract that will keep him at Villa Park until 2013, the club said.

The Spaniard was spotted playing for Espanyol and joined Villa's academy in January.

Villa host fellow strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday (1500).



* Blackpool welcome back Charlie Adam, Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Craig
Cathcart from suspension, injury and illness respectively as they
continue their battle to stay in the Premier League at Blackburn Rovers
on Saturday (1500).

"I've got Charlie back and two or three other players back so I might
be able to pick a slightly more familiar team to our fans for this next
game," manager Ian Holloway said on the club website
([ندعوك للتسجيل في المنتدى أو التعريف بنفسك لمعاينة هذا الرابط]



* Birmingham City have been boosted by the return of Six players ahead
of Saturday's game at Wigan Athletic (1500), the club said on their
website ([ندعوك للتسجيل في المنتدى أو التعريف بنفسك لمعاينة هذا الرابط]

Roger Johnson, Barry Ferguson, Stephen Carr, Martin Jiranek, Craig
Gardner and Obafemi Martins have all returned to training for the
Midlands side who are one place above the drop zone.