Richards fears FA Cup woe

Micah Richards fears he may be sidelined for a month with a hamstring injury, a timescale that would rule him out of Manchester City's FA Cup semi-final with Manchester United.

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Richards lasted just five minutes of England Under-21s' 4-0 win in Denmark. He pulled up sharply and after treatment he was taken from the field on a stretcher.
The defender will head back to Eastlands for assessment, but he has already informed U21s' boss Stuart Pearce that he fears a month-long absence.
"Micah's injury was the only downside of the night," Pearce said. "He's got a hamstring problem. We don't know how serious it is yet but he's already diagnosed himself as being out for four weeks. But that's 'Dr Richards' talking though. It could be four days.
"So we'll see. Let's hope for City's sake and our preparations this summer it's not too serious."
City face United at Wembley on April 16, which hands Richards three weeks to shake off his injury.

Redknapp rejects Speed claims

Harry Redknapp has disputed claims by Wales manager Gary Speed, insisting Gareth Bale was fully fit when he reported for international duty.

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Bale has been ruled out of Saturday's Euro 2012 qualifier against England with a hamstring injury, and Speed said on Thursday that Bale had picked up the problem at Spurs.
However, Redknapp is adamant the winger was feeling fine after completing 90 minutes for Tottenham in their goalless draw against West Ham at the weekend.
"I wouldn't have let him go if he had an injury," Redknapp told the Daily Mail. "Gareth played for 90 minutes against West Ham on Saturday and they tell me the figures from that game show he covered more ground than he's ever done before.
"There was no sign of a hamstring injury. He's not come in after the game and said his hamstrings were tight. When he left here on Saturday, off he went and he certainly wasn't injured.
"He hasn't had a hamstring injury. He had a back, then he had a tight thigh and we've been very careful with him. Now he's got a hamstring. He must've done it with Wales. I'm not blaming anyone. It's no one's fault."
With Tottenham's Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid in less than a fortnight, Redknapp is hopeful Bale will be ready after a week's rest, although he admits there is a risk of further aggravating the injury.
"The first I heard of it was at 10 o'clock on Wednesday night when our physio called me," Redknapp said. "I feared the worst but he's seen our physio and it's only tightness. There's no tear but if he plays and it pings, he's had it."

Nani: Fergie limits my freedom

Manchester United winger Nani has revealed he is playing within his abilities because manager Sir Alex Ferguson restricts his "freedom" on the pitch.

Portuguese trickster Nani has been, perhaps unfairly, living in the shadow of former United star Cristiano Ronaldo during his time at Old Trafford, but this season he has gone some way to filling his countryman's boots by translating his undoubted ability into goals and assists.
But Nani said he has sacrificed some of his personal joy for the game and put a limit on the amount of tricks he executes on the pitch in the pursuit of increased effectiveness.
"I try to enjoy playing now, but it is not always possible because I have a responsibility to the team," Nani told Spain's Don Balón.
"But something of the street remains in me. It is not easy to show at United because Sir Alex does not allow very much freedom and I cannot do the tricks and things I did with my friends."
Nani presumably refers to the sort of expressive wing play that could humiliate opponents but risks giving the ball away. He hinted that Ferguson is more relaxed about his star winger trying the spectacular against weaker opposition when United have the lion's share of possession.
"When the game is under control I take a risk and it makes me very happy if things work out."