Manchester City Football Club

• Nickname:Sky Blues
• Founded:1887
• Manager:Roberto Mancini

• Ground:City of Manchester Stadium
• Capacity:47805

Mpenza told to take a rest

15 Jan 2008 - 09:53:43

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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."