Tuesday gossip

Tue 06 Sep 2011, 8:47AM
Posted by Peter Ferguson

As City's impressive contingent of international players strutted their stuff over the weekend, one young man's performance was maybe overlooked as the star names made headlines.




Not at Barnsley though, where an Oakwell crowd granted a rare chance to watch Under-21 football saw much to admire in Gai Assulin last night, despite England's emphatic 4-1 victory over Israel.

Now, as sportinglife.com reports: "Israel Under-21 coach Guy Luzon thinks Manchester City youngster Gai Assulin needs to play first-team football.

"The 20-year-old moved to the Etihad Stadium in December 2010 after his deal at Barcelona expired but he has yet to make his debut for City.

"Assulin impressed for Israel Under-21s in the 4-1 defeat to England and Luzon thinks the midfielder needs to play more football to improve his game."

They quote Luzon: "The squad at Manchester City contains all the stars from the world. The squad at Manchester City is like the squad at Barcelona and it is very hard to play.

"I think when he plays it can show his quality. He has the quality to play in England. I would like to see him play. For me, it doesn't matter where but he needs to play."

Well, that's plain enough, and we're sure that Roberto is well aware of Gai's ability and potential. Every footballer wants to play, of course, and several others are on the outside looking in.

Wayne Bridge, for instance. But there is renewed hope for Wayne as the Mail reminds us that the transfer window, far from being slammed shut and nailed down, is set to re-open toot sweet.

Oh yes. An extra window for Football League clubs to "hoover up" players on loans or free transfers after the main one closes, is thrown open on Thursday and stays that way until 25 November.

John Edwards nominates Bridge as a potential "high profile loanee", adding that Roberto Mancini was less than impressed when he apparently "rejected pre-deadline advances from Celtic and Fenerbahce".

Nobody, apart from Wayne of course, would be happier to see him back on the pitch than his girlfriend Frankie Sandford, who sings on Saturdays it says here (No, for The Saturdays - Music Ed).

Right. Well, she's been talking to femalefirst.co.uk, confiding about their relationship: "It's lovely, but there are plenty of occasions where I'm sitting there like, `Zzzzz', as the boys talk about football."

Frankie adds: "Wayne tried to teach me the offside rule, and I understood it for about a day, but then I forgot it again."

And if you think that's the cue for a clever pay-off line, forget about it. Almost every woman we know understands the offside rule. What we don't understand is why they need to choose between 57 pairs of shoes to go to the match ...