No, WTPS has not been replaced by an episode of a not-very-much missed 1970s sitcom, but language is indeed at the heart of the eye-catching story that features in a few papers today.

Pablo Zabaleta has impressed everybody behind the scenes at City with his willingness to learn English, something he did very quickly with weekly lessons that he is still taking.

However the affable Argentinean is encouraging his fellow countryman Carlos Tevez to follow suit, saying to Bill Thornton in the Star:

“Carlos sometimes tries to speak English but he finds it difficult. I go for a lesson once a week. Maybe Carlos should come, too – or come to me for lessons.

“I did not speak English before I came to City but I learnt it here.

“When I came here, I could not say anything. I said to Carlos that maybe he needs to come to me for lessons.

“It is important because we need to speak with team- mates, the manager and coaches – and everyone. And we are living in England for some time in the future, maybe, so I try to make my English get better.”

He also goes on to quash the notion, raised in the media this week, that he will move to Juventus, adding: “Juventus, I don’t know anything about that. My head is at Manchester City. I know nothing in respect of the Juve interest.”   

Looking ahead to Sunday's visit to St Andrews, Brum boss Alex McLeish invokes the spirit of 'Gladiator' in his desire to make things difficult for us tomorrow.

In the Mirror he declares, "The Birmingham fans unleashed hell a few years ago and made St Andrews a tough place to go. They were hostile and I am looking for a return to that.

"The goading of opposition players is part of the game. Some individuals have to show their emotions like Adebayor and Bellamy."