International week always brings something of a hiatus in the usual football news traffic, with more unusual stories slipping under the radar, and this week is no different.

Pablo Zabaleta's omission from the Argentinean squad last season was a mystery to many, but unluckily for Pablo his recall has been blighted by a hamstring injury picked up on Monday night at Villa Park.

Reports ahead of that game had suggested that Maradona wanted both City's Argentinean stars to be withdrawn ahead of their upcoming World Cup qualifiers, but according to the Daily Mail the legendary player-turned-coach is now incandescent over the liklihood that he will be without Pablo's services.

He is reported as saying: "Someone should have travelled to England to bring them back. Argentina have two massive games and Manchester City have 100 more.

"Once again these things have got away from us. It upsets me a lot that we can't rely on Zabaleta playing."

On the same subject, the Daily Mirror say that City's club doctor has flown to Argentina to liaise with their medical people and to build relations with future call-ups in mind.

Transfer speculation is never far away, and the Mail states that City will dip their toe in the market once again with three new recruits in mind.

According to Ian Ladyman, "Manchester City's remarkable assault on the Barclays Premier League title will be bolstered by at least three signings in the January transfer window as manager Mark Hughes looks to build on his team's impressive start to the season.

"Hughes has taken his expensively assembled City team to the top four of the Barclays Premier League on the back of some attention-grabbing football that has announced their arrival as a genuine top-flight force.

"It is understood that Hughes, who spent more than £120million this summer, has been given the go-ahead by the club's owners to take the next step in the New Year after he made it clear that his squad still need a right back, a left back and another creative midfielder."