Source: Daily_Mail
Ireland sidelined for City's Carling Cup showdown with United with injury
Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland will be out of action fortwo weeks after picking up a hamstring injury in the 3-0 win overWolves.[LNB]The midfielder, who was substituted after 55 minutes at Molineux,was assessed on Tuesday morning and will be out for the next fortnight.[LNB]Ireland will miss the FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough on Saturdayand the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final with city rivals Unitedon Wednesday.[LNB] Blow: Stephen Ireland has been ruled out for a fortnight[LNB]City then face Blackburn at home in the Barclays Premier League on Monday, January 11 and Everton away the following Saturday.[LNB]Target: Ivan Cordoba [LNB]But manager Roberto Mancini will hope to have Ireland back for the second leg against United at Old Trafford on January 19. [LNB]It is a blow to Mancini because while he does have options, notably recordsigning Robinho, Ireland has impressed lately, returning to the form which madehim one of the most impressive young players in the country last season. [LNB]Instead, the 23-year-old faces a race against time to be fit for the trip to Everton and the decisive return leg against United. [LNB]Mancini is facing a shortage of players in other areas as well. With Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor now on Africa Cup of Nationsduty with the Ivory Coast and Togo respectively and Joleon Lescott,Nedum Onuoha and Wayne Bridge all sidelined through injury, the Italianhas particular problems in defence. [LNB]Little wonder it he is ready to bring in Ivan Cordoba from InterMilan as a reinforcement, although Mancini has admitted he is meetingsome resistance.[LNB] Wenger would love to have Bellamy but admits City ace is out of his leagueToure gutted to be leaving Mancini's City for Africa Cup of Nations dutyMan City owner Mansour is not about to buy us for 1bn euros, insist Real MadridWolves 0 Man City 3: Tevez double makes it two wins in two for Mancinihttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/teampages/manchester-city.html
