City rubber-stamp Ball deal
10 May 2007 - 10:53:45
Manchester City are poised to hand under-fire defender Michael Ball a new long-term contract.
Ball will miss the final match of the season at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday after admitting a Football Association charge of violent conduct after stamping on Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo last weekend.
The former Everton and Rangers full-back will serve a three-match ban, but has impressed Citizens boss Stuart Pearce with his form since arriving at Eastlands from PSV Eindhoven in January.
"Michael has been fantastic since he's been with us," Pearce told the Manchester Evening News.
"He has earned himself a new contract which we're hoping he'll sign this week."
Pearce has also praised Ball's reaction to his altercation with Ronaldo in the Manchester derby after he issued a public and then personal apology to the United winger.
"Michael probably got a little caught up in the derby atmosphere at the weekend," he continued.
"He was honest and genuine enough to step forward and say 'I was out of order'.
"He's put an apology in to the player and I hope it's received in the right manner by Cristiano.
"We hope to move on from that, as we've always done. We let the authorities deal with any problems, whether on the pitch or with the Football Association. We've done the same again."