Scott Sinclair willing to fight for starting berth at Manchester City

The summer signing from Swansea City is, however, prepared to be patient and battle his way into Roberto Mancini's plans.

Sinclair linked up with the Blues in order to challenge for top honours and has no regrets regarding his decision.

He is confident he can earn a regular role and is pleased with the progress he has made to this point.

"I don't know how often I'll play because competition for places is intense," said Sinclair.

"I made my debut against Stoke and then played against Arsenal and Aston Villa. All I can do now is concentrate on the next game and give 100 per cent.

"I'm just looking forward to playing in any games. All I can do is try to make an impact when the opportunity arises."

He added: "I'll aim to improve off all the world-class players here. Everyone will be rotated, so it's down to the manager's choice.

"I'll just work hard and try and get the nod again."

Micah Richards could be out for four months after requiring knee surgery

The 24-year-old picked up the injury towards the end of City's narrow 1-0 victory, pulling up and holding onto his knee without any other players close by.

He was stretchered from the field while wearing an oxygen mask and the England international ended up having an operation to mend a torn knee cartilage.

The unfortunate Richards had only returned to action at the start of October, after picking up a heel injury while on duty for Team GB at the London Olympics.

Richards said: "The positive thing is that the injury has been repaired so the knee will be as good as new.

"I have a brace on it and I am using crutches. I can't do anything at all for the next four to six weeks and I am probably looking at 12-16 weeks before I am back in action.

"I knew straight away that it was quite a bad injury. The knee locked and I couldn't straighten it.

"I suppose it could have been even worse and not repairable, so I am being positi ve. Injuries are part and parcel of the job but, with this coming on top of the other one, I do feel a little hard done to!

"I will be working as hard as I can to get back as quickly as I can and I thank all the fans who have sent their best wishes."

Injury worries for City

The loss of Richards leaves Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini short of options on the right-hand side of his defence in the short term.

Pablo Zabaleta and Maicon are already sidelined with hamstring and foot problems respectively, although both are due to return soon.

Kolo Toure replaced Richards on Saturday, but the Ivory Coast international is not registered in City's Champions League squad.

Richards added: "I felt I was doing OK. We beat Sunderland, West Brom and Swansea, and kept two clean sheets in those three games, so things were going well in the Premier League.

"I am sure the lads will continue that run of form and I will look forward to getti ng stuck into the title defence as soon as possible when I return.

"Everyone has their opinion about how we have started but the league table looks pretty good."

Micah Richards could be out for eight weeks after requiring knee surgery

The 24-year-old picked up the injury towards the end of City's narrow 1-0 victory, pulling up and holding onto his knee without any other players close by.

He was stretchered from the field while wearing an oxygen mask and there was some concern that he might have damaged his knee ligaments, which could have ruled him out for the rest of the season.

However, the England international ended up having an operation to mend a torn knee cartilage and City say he will be out for up to two months.

The unfortunate Richards had only returned to action at the start of October, after picking up a heel injury while on duty for Team GB at the London Olympics.

And he was criticised by boss Roberto Mancini last week because he questioned City's tactics during their 3-1 Champions League loss at Ajax.

City are facing something of an injury crisis this weekend because, although he should be back in training soon, David Silva is unlikely to be fit for Saturday's trip to West Ham.

Javi Garcia, Maicon and Jack Rodwell are also doubtful but Pablo Zabaleta may be fit and James Milner will return after serving a one-game suspension.

Balotelli on Ballon shortlist

Balotelli is joined by Manchester City teammates Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure along with Manchester United duo Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.

There is no place for his City teammates Vincent Kompany, Joe Hart or David SIlva.

Didier Drogba is the only Chelsea player from their Champions League-winning side to make the list.

There are 11 players in total from Real Madrid and Barcelona, with Ronaldo and Lionel Messi - who has won the award in the last two seasons - expected to battle it out for the gong.

Meanwhile, Roberto Di Matteo, Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini are among a shortlist of 10 in the frame for the coach of the year award.

Vicente del Bosque, Pep Guardiola, Jupp Heynckes, Jurgen Klopp, Joachim Low, Jose Mourinho and Cesare Prandelli have also been credited for their good work over the past 12 months.

The full shortlist:

Sergio Agero (Argentina & Manchester City)

Mario Balotelli (Ital y & Manchester City)

Karim Benzema (France & Real Madrid)

Gianluigi Buffon (Italy & Juventus)

Sergio Busquets (Spain & Barcelona)

Iker Casillas (Spain & Real Madrid)

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea & Shanghai Shenhua)

Radamel Falcao (Colombia & Atltico Madrid)

Zlatan Ibrahimovi (Sweden, AC Milan & Paris St Germain)

Andrs Iniesta (Spain & Barcelona)

Lionel Messi (Argentina & Barcelona)

Manuel Neuer (Germany & Bayern Munich)

Neymar (Brazil & Santos)

Mesut zil (Germany & Real Madrid)

Gerard Piqu (Spain & Barcelona)

Andrea Pirlo (Italy & Juventus)

Sergio Ramos (Spain & Real Madrid)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal & Real Madrid)

Wayne Rooney (England & Manchester United)

Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast & Manchester City)

Robin van Persie (Holland, Arsenal & Manchester United)

Xabi Alonso (Spain & Real Madrid)

Xavi Hernndez (Spain & Barcelona)< /p>

Abdul Razak returns to Manchester City from Charlton

The Ivory Coast midfielder made two appearances in the Championship during his month-long spell at The Valley.

Razak, who was an unused substitute in Charlton's weekend draw with Wolves, was due to return to City in the New Year but the decision was taken to end his loan spell early.

The midfielder featured in City's Capital One Cup defeat to Aston Villa this season and made his international debut against Russia in August.

Manchester City name Txiki Begiristain as new director of football

Marwood had previously been responsible for signing players, but his transfer dealings had been criticised by manager Roberto Mancini over the past two summers.

Begiristain will report to City's chief executive Ferran Soriano - who worked with him at Barcelona.

Begiristain is a former Real Sociedad, Barcelona and Deportivo winger who won 22 caps for Spain.

He ended his playing career in the J-League at the Urawa Red Diamonds, before spending seven years at the Nou Camp as Director of Football.

"I am very pleased indeed to have been offered such an exciting opportunity," Begiristain told the club's official website.

"The progress and on-field achievements at Manchester City are plain for all to see and I am honoured to have been asked to contribute to its future success.

"I am very much looking forward to working with Brian Marwood, Roberto Mancini and Ferran Soriano in continuing to build a football team and philosophy which will serve Manchester City well in the near and long term future."

Man City v Swansea preview

Champions City are again without playmaker David Silva and a number of other players.

Silva continues to struggle with the hamstring injury which has kept him out for the past two games while defenders Pablo Zabaleta (hamstring) and Maicon (foot), and midfielders Javi Garcia (thigh) and Jack Rodwell (hamstring) are also missing.

Another midfielder, James Milner, also sits out through suspension after his sending-off at West Brom last weekend.

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup has no fresh injury concerns.

The Dane could opt to again start midfielder Michu in attack after the Spaniard claimed his sixth goal of the season when employed as a striker in the win over Wigan, with Danny Graham the alternative.

Pablo Hernandez and in-form Wayne Routledge look set to keep Nathan Dyer on the bench, while Kyle Bartley (thigh) and Neil Taylor (broken ankle) are the only long-term absentees.

Man City (from): Hart, Pantilimon, Wright, Richar ds, Kompany, Lescott, K Toure, Nastasic, Clichy, Kolarov, Nasri, Y Toure, Barry, Sinclair, Aguero, Balotelli, Dzeko, Tevez.

Swansea (from): Vorm, Flores, Tate, Williams, Britton, Michu, Graham, Hernandez, Dyer, Routledge, Monk, Shechter, Moore, De Guzman, Tiendalli, Rangel, Ki, Tremmel, Agustien, Gower, Richards, Davies.