After three weeks of USA papers in which soccer is still largely reduced to a footnote – though the Blues' good deeds of the pitch got a fair airing – glad to see the British press are still relentless in the pursuit of all things City.

The Sun this morning has a nice piece from Grant Rollins and Victor Vago with Yaya and Kolo Toure’s dad Mory who reveals just how poor the family was until the brothers struck it rich in football.

There is more traditional fare in the some of the other papers with virtually all of them inevitably linking new Fulham boss Mark Hughes with a move for Roque Santa Cruz.

Best of the headlines on this story belongs to the Star which shouts ‘ Sparky’s new Santa snatch’.

Talking of possible exits, the Mirror and the Express both claim that Spurs have had a £4million bid for Craig Bellamy turned down.

In his piece in the Mirror Darren Lewis reports on a lack of spending at Spurs this summer. ‘Hard-up Harry to go it a loan’ is the headline and Lewis goes on to report that the White Hart Lane chief had a bid of £4million turned down for the Blues Wales’ international.

Finally, the Express, Mirror and Star all report that Patrick Vieira will not miss out on the opening game of the season, if selected, following his harsh red card against Inter Milan. Quite right too.