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Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez will miss Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United at Wembley, manager Roberto Mancini has confirmed.

The Argentina international injured a hamstring in Monday night’s defeat to Liverpool at Anfield and is expected to be out until next month.

“Tevez is not available for Saturday,” Mancini said.

“It is a big problem. But we can’t take any risks. We have six games left and hopefully we can get Carlos back for the last two or three games.”

It means Tevez would be in with a chance of making the final on May 14 if City make it through to face either Stoke or Bolton.

However, Mancini will be forced to rely on either or both of Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli to derail United’s Treble bid.

“I still have to decide what to do,” said Mancini.

“But both players know this is an important chance for them. Every player knows this is an important moment for the club. If we will we can go to a final, so every player will give 100%.”

There is some good news for City though as full-back Micah Richards has returned to training and is expected to be fit after suffering a hamstring injury on England Under-21 duty at the end of last month.

“Micah Richards is available,” said Mancini.

“He trained two days ago and again on Wednesday. He will be okay.”

Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David de Gea has again denied claims he has already held talks with Manchester United.

Reports emanating from both Spain and England suggest a £20million deal is already agreed between Atletico and United for the youngster.

But Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson and Atletico’s general manager Miguel Angel Gil Marin denied that this was the case.

Marin did, though, confirm offers had been received from United and their Premier League rivals Chelsea – whilst they had also offered De Gea fresh terms to extend his stay.

The 20-year-old, whose release clause is just over £22million, has already insisted that he has not agreed a deal to leave the Vicente Calderon.

And he has now gone further by stating reports that he has talked with United are false.

“There is nothing, it is all lies,” he told a press conference.

“I know nothing about offers from any team, whether it is other clubs or a renewal from Atletico.”

De Gea insists he is not frightened about Atletico fans turning against him as he has done nothing wrong.

“I have given my all to this team since I have been here, and that will continue today and tomorrow, I will always fight for this team,” he said.

“I do not think the fans have any reason to be against me, we have the best fans in the world and they will support me until my final day, for that I am sure.”

Newbury is set to stage its rescheduled meeting on Friday six days after two horses were killed by electrocution.
The horses died in the parade ring before the first race of Saturday’s fixture, which was abandoned after the opening contest was completed.
Officials say the course is now safe after an underground cable was removed.
Cheltenham Gold Cup contender What A Friend, part-owned by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, is among those due to run at the Berkshire track.
The dual Grade One winner faces four rivals in the Aon Chase.
Walkon, who is entered for the Champion Hurdle at next month’s Cheltenham Festival, tops the field for the Totesport Trophy.
On Thursday, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced the deaths of horses Fenix Two and Marching Song were most likely due to “accidental electrocution”.
Post-mortems revealed both suffered heart attacks and no suspicious substances had been found.
An electricity cable which ran beneath the parade ring has since been disconnected and removed.
The two horses died on Saturday before the first race, which was run before the remainder of the meeting was abandoned.
BHA expert Professor Tim Morris on cause of horse deaths
Newbury officials have assured the BHA the parade ring area is safe for use by horses and humans.
On Friday, What A Friend could book a place at Cheltenham for him and young jockey Harry Skelton.
Trainer Paul Nicholls boasts a strong Gold Cup team, with Ruby Walsh set for Kauto Star, Sam Thomas to be reacquainted with Denman and Nick Scholfield having partnered Pride Of Dulcote.
“He’s going to need to run well if he is going to go for the Gold Cup but it’s a nice prep for him,” said champion trainer Nicholls of What A Friend.
Nicholls has a second runner in former Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Noland, the mount of champion jockey Tony McCoy.
Ben Case runs Dance Island, who was pulled up when fancied for the Welsh National, while the versatile Fair Along and Carronhills, who is in both the Gold Cup and the Grand National but has not run for more than two years, complete the field.
Walkon, trained by Alan King, is among the market leaders for the Totesport Trophy.
Last year’s winner Get Me Out Of Here, who will be ridden by McCoy for trainer Jonjo O’Neill, is seeking a second victory in the race.
The seven-year-old was an impressive winner of the competitive handicap 12 months ago and went on to finish second to Menorah in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, said: “He was a bit disappointing early in the season and we could never find a lot wrong with him.
“He just didn’t run well for what ever reason, but lets hope he puts it together at Newbury.”
King hopes the delay will have worked in Walkon’s favour.
“I always said that the race could come a week early as it had only been three weeks since his Ascot comeback and circumstances have given us an extra six days,” he said.
King also saddles Salden Licht and The Betchworth Kid, while the 15-strong field includes Brian Ellison pair Bothy and Palomar, plus the John Quinn-trained Recession Proof.
Solix is set to make his first start on British soil for Nicky Henderson having arrived from France, while the trainer also runs last season’s Triumph Hurdle winner Soldatino and Eradicate.

In the Game Spirit Chase, Take The Breeze could give Paul Nicholls his sixth victory in the last eight runnings of the contest.
Nicholls also has Haldon Gold Cup winner Tchico Polos, the mount of McCoy.

Cesc Fabregas believes his displays for Arsenal this season demonstrate his commitment to the club.

The Gunners skipper again played a key role as Arsene Wenger’s men secured a memorable 2-1 victory over Barcelona in the first leg of their last-16 UEFA Champions League tie on Wednesday night.

The Spain international’s superb pass sent Samir Nasri bursting clear in the closing stages with the Frenchman cutting the ball back for Andrey Arshavin to slot home the winner.

Fabregas was a summer target for his former club Barca but was persuaded to remain at Emirates Stadium for at least another season by manager Arsene Wenger.

Rumours relating to a return to his homeland continue to circulate, with Real Madrid now also reported to be monitoring the situation, but the 23-year-old wants to focus solely on ending Arsenal’s six-year wait for silverware.
Trophies

Wenger’s men have the Carling Cup final with Birmingham to look forward to, are well placed to challenge Manchester United for the Premier League title and tackle Leyton Orient in the fifth round of the FA Cup, on top of their European ambitions.

Fabregas said: “I’m showing I’m committed to this club and we want to do great things.

“I want to continue working to improve and help us win trophies. We are still fighting in all four competitions.

“We want to win everything and go the farthest possible in all competitions.

“My future is the last thing on my mind.”

Frank Lampard has admitted it would be a “disaster” if Chelsea failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

A goalless draw against Fulham on Monday saw the champions remain in fifth place in the Premier League.

With Chelsea trailing leaders Manchester United by 12 points, the 32-year-old midfielder denied that the cup competitions were now the priority.

Speaking at the launch of the England Footballers’ Foundation, Lampard told BBC Sport: “We must finish in the top four and can never take our eye off the ball, it would be a disaster if we didn’t qualify.”

Chelsea host Everton in round four of the FA Cup on Saturday and play FC Copenhagen in the first knockout round of the Champions League three days later.

And Lampard admitted that the two competitions were now vital to his club.

He said: “There’s huge importance because you can see the league’s going to be difficult and that means it’s more important to reach finals.”

We haven’t performed as well, there’s been injuries, and some unsettling moments, but if you don’t perform you fall behind in the title race

Frank Lampard

The club’s record signing Fernando Torres has failed to score in the two matches he has played since his £50m move from Liverpool but Lampard also backed his team-mate to star for his new club.

“He’s made a huge difference,” he said. “No, he hasn’t scored in two games but all the spotlight is on him.

“There’s a huge responsibility, people are looking to him to do it instantly, but he will make a difference to us.

“He’s a top-class player, he has boosted the lads already and for sure will come good, he’s going to add to us in a big way.

“David Luiz has come in as well and has been fantastic.”

With £25m for Luiz, Chelsea splashed out £75m on transfer window deadline day and Lampard said he was delighted by the January spending spree.

“I was slightly surprised but it was very exciting and I was pleased,” he said.

“It’s a huge boost to have such quality players that we needed at the time.

“We haven’t spent much in recent years compared to some by our standards, but last season we won the [League and FA Cup] double and this was a good time for us to go into the market.

“I’m just thankful we’ve got the funds to do this.”
Frank Lampard
Lampard has been at Chelsea since 2001

Lampard admitted Chelsea’s inconsistent form this season has been down to “a few factors”.

“We haven’t performed as well, there’s been injuries, and some unsettling moments, but if you don’t perform you fall behind in the title race and that’s the reason really.”

Lampard is the nephew of Harry Redknapp, and after seeing his uncle mastermind Spurs’ victory over AC Milan on Tuesday, the Chelsea player admitted he would like to see him manage England after Fabio Capello steps down in 2012.

“There’d be a few candidates,” he said. “It’s for him and the FA to decide but it’d be nice if it were an English manager.

“At the moment Harry’s doing a fantastic job at Spurs and if he has an opportunity to manage England I’m sure he’d be an outstanding manager. But at the moment we have to play for Capello and we have to win something.”

Lampard captained England to victory over Denmark on 9 February but insists there is still a lot of work to do before the national team can claim to have fully recovered from their World Cup debacle in South Africa.

“Since the World Cup we’ve had good and not so good results,” he said.

“We haven’t turned the corner yet. That is a process and takes time.

“When we reach the European Championships and do better than we did at the World Cup then we can say we have.”

West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo has confirmed his interest in signing former Manchester United and Aston Villa midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba.
The Odense player has held talks with the Baggies and watched them in action during Tuesday’s friendly clash at Doncaster.

Di Matteo will hope Djemba-Djemba can make a bigger impact than at Old Trafford and Villa Park where he made only a limited number of first-team appearances.
He said: “Eric has come over to talk to us but we haven’t got anything to announce yet.

“It’s ongoing and we hope there will be a resolution soon. He’s had a good couple of years in Denmark.
“We are looking for players who have experience in the highest leagues whether it is England, Germany, Spain, Denmark or Switzerland.”
Di Matteo is aware that he has to bring in more new blood before the season starts and a striker is a priority.

Roman Bednar, Luke Moore and Simon Cox are all struggling for fitness and a bid to sign Liverpool’s David N’Gog on loan looks to have failed.
Di Matteo said: “It is a big concern to us at the moment. We are working on things but it’s difficult. Everyone is after a striker.
“I’ve been saying since the end of last season that we need more players.”

Ishmael Miller is the only experienced fit striker at present and Di Matteo has been linked with moves for Stoke’s James Beattie and PSV Eindhoven’s Marcus Berg.