Mpenza told to take a rest
15 Jan 2008 - 09:53:43
Manchester City striker Emile Mpenza has been told to take a break from training, as he continues to struggle to shrug off a niggling hamstring injury.
The 29-year-old Belgium international has not started a game for the Citizens since late November and manager Sven-Goran Eriksson wants his player to take a rest.
He told the club's official website: "I had a long talk with Emile last week and we decided that he needed at least a week's rest to get rid of the hamstring problem he has had.
"I hope that in a couple of weeks we will see the real Mpenza, because he has been struggling for a while now.
"Emile needs to feel that he is totally injury-free, then he will be the good player we know he is.
"We have taken him out of training for a week to ten days and hopefully he will then come back totally fit.
"It is time for him to take a break and Emile agrees because it has not been good for him to train at only 50 per cent."
