Where to look for City players on international duty

Daniel Gabbidon, Robert Earnshaw, Rhys Weston - WALES.

Italy v Wales, Saturday 6th September. San Siro, Milan. 7:45pm BST.

Wales v Finland, Wednesday 10th Septermber. Millennium Stadium, 7:45pm.





Daniel Gabbidon is the most likely starter for Wales on Saturday. We are still awaiting news of his foot injury, if fit he will play. Earnie and Rhys are both expected on the bench. Earnie, as cover for Craig Bellamy, could see action in the next couple of games. The club v country row between Wales and Newcastle appears to be getting nasty with Newcastle hopping mad over Craig's participation for Wales and they are demanding he does not play in both games.

After the game in Italy Wales are in the Millennium Stadium next Wednesday infront of a sell out home crowd. Any result for Wales in Italy will keep them favourites for the group. A win for the Azzurri though would make them favourites as they would overtake the Welsh.

Current table.

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Wales	5	4	0	1	10	2	12
Italy	5	3	1	1	8	3	10
Serb&Mont	6	2	2	2	7	8	8
Finland	5	2	0	4	6	8	6
Azerbaijan	6	1	1	4	4	14	4

James Collins - Wales U21.

Italy U21 v Wales U21 - Friday September 5th.

Wales U21 v Finlad U21 - Tuesday September 9th.

James could well start both games for the U21's. There is even talk that he could be a potential inclusion in the first team squad as cover if there are injuries worries for Wales defensively.


Neil Alexander Scotland.

Scotland v Faroe Islands - Saturday 6th September.

Germany v Scotland - Wednesday 10th September.

Neil Alexander will be on the bench for both of Scotlands games unless he is called home for the birth of his first child. Dunfermline's Derek Stllie is on standy by. Neil has yet to win a cap despite being called up for every game in the last 12 months or more.


Alan Lee - Republic of Ireland.

Ireland v Russia. Saturday 6th September.

Ireland v Turket - Freindly - Tuesday 9th September.

With Robbie Keane out injured Lee has been recalled into the Irish squad. He is competing with Clinton Morrison, Gary Doherty, Damien Duff and David Connolly for a starting place. If Keane had been fit it would have been any one of those five alongside the Spurs man but now boss Brian Kerr has two pick two strikers.


Meanwhile City's 7th international player, Tony Vidmar, will get a chance to check out the Madjeski Stadium ahead of City's visit on Sep 16th.

Vidmar is in the Australian squad to face Jamaica in Reading on Sunday Sep 7th. A first ever meeting between the clubs.