The papers are just like everybody else really - during the holiday weeks just before the season kicks off, you maybe have to muck in to cover for absent colleagues.

So the Sun's north-east man Steve Brenner widens his scope today with a City story that includes good news for Micah's army of fans and heartening quotes from Joleon Lescott.

Underneath a nice snap of new signing David Silva, he declares: "Manchester City have told Liverpool and Spurs to forget about signing Micah Richards."

Steve adds: "City boss Roberto Mancini is not prepared to sell the former England defender, 22, despite him not always being a first choice."

And he quotes a "club source" confirming: "Micah is a key part of Roberto's plans and is part of the future at City. He will be going nowhere."

Then comes fellow Blues defender Joleon's contribution as Brenner writes that he "reckons the pain of failure will fire City to glory this time."

Lescott tells the Sun man: "The experience of missing out on fourth spot last season means we'll try that bit harder. We beat Chelsea twice to prove we can do it.

"The belief was already there because a lot of our players come from clubs where they have won things."

Over at the Guardian, Stuart James patrols his familiar midlands patch and says that City, Tottenham and Liverpool are all eyeing Aston Villa's England youngster Ashley Young.

He reckons City made an enquiry for Young. Fair play to Stu, he adds "but the pursuit of James Milner and the signing of David Silva make it unlikely they will take things further".