City fired up to strike back

MANCHESTER City will be desperate to bounce back from last weekend’s shock 2-1 home defeat to West Ham when they go to Tottenham for tomorrow’s lunchtime clash.

But they will have to do so without talisman playmaker David Silva, who suffered a calf injury during the warm-up and was withdrawn from the starting XI against the Hammers.

Silva also missed City's 4-1 victory over Sunderland in the third round of the Capital One Cup on Tuesday, and has been urged to stay away from the pitch until he completely recovers from the muscle spasms.

City can expect to be pitched against a strong Spurs line-up tomorrow and the Sky Blues will be hoping captain Vincent Kompany will return from his own calf injury after being out for the last two matches.



Manchester United sit second in the Premier League and could be top at five o’clock tomorrow.

Should City lose at Tottenham and United beat bottom club Sunderland, the Reds will rule the roost.

And Louis van Gaal’s side could hardly be in better spirits going into their fixture with the Black Cats at Old Trafford.

Last weekend’s 3-2 win at Southampton was followed by a midweek 3-0 Capital One Cup dismissal of Ipswich. Wayne Rooney ended his scoring drought in that success, while £36m signing Anthony Martial made it four goals in as many games.

The 19-year-old will be licking his lips at the thought of taking on a defence which leaked four goals against City.