The combination of an international break and a securely closed transfer window means the papers are concentrating on current footballing matters when it comes to City - mostly.

Kolo Toure is away with the Ivory Coast, but he pops up in the Star with some sage advice for Emmanuel Adebayor, who it is said "...came close to leaving Eastlands in the transfer window after stressing he wanted regular games under boss Roberto Mancini."

His former Arsenal team mate knows him well and is in a good position to say - “We are all top players here. When you play for a top club you need to fight for your place. Adebayor had a difficult season last year but he is working hard.

“He was nearly killed so he needed time to get over that. He is happy at City and you will see a much better player this year. I’m sure he will be one of the best players in England this season – he will be back to his best.”

Joe Hart's crucial contribution to England's 4-0 win over Bulgaria does not go unnoticed. It was just 14 seconds from Joe's parried save until Jermain Defoe put England two up, and the Telegraph's Jason Burt lavishes warm praise on the City stopper.

"Hart has now made his mark and acquiring the shirt for England has actually been less of an impressive achievement that dislodging Shay Given as first-choice at Manchester City.

"He has now done both in quick succession. England will go to Switzerland on Monday aware that it may be, with a depleted defence, the most difficult tie of this qualifying campaign. But with Hart in such outstanding form there is at least a greater confidence than one of England’s perennial problems has been solved. Any doubter should replay that 14 seconds."
 
But there's always room for transfer talk, and it seems that when it comes to City, to paraphrase Vic & Bob, "they won't let it lie". Italian striker Marco Borriello is on loan to Roma from AC Milan, but according to his agent in the Guardian City made a last ditch effort to bring him here. Not only City but Real Madrid made inquiries, it is claimed, but he ended up going on loan to Roma so draw your own conclusions from that one....