Gareth Barry

Gareth Barry wants to record another famous victory against arch-rivals, Germany. The Manchester City man missed England's opening World Cup game against the USA but returned to take his place alongside Frank Lampard in the centre of midfield against both Algeria and Slovenia having recovered sufficiently from an injury sustained in the penultimate game of the Premier League season against Tottenham, which forced him off the pitch and into the Manchester City Hospitality lounge..

FABIO CAPELLO hopes to find out before noon today that key midfielder Gareth Barry will be fit to travel to the World Cup.

The Manchester City star will have a scan and rigorous tests on his ankle in London, with Capello waiting for the
results before confirming his 23-man squad for South Africa.

Capello remains hopeful Barry – who plays the important holding role for his country – will be able to board the plane tomorrow.

The Italian anticipates Barry will be able to join in training after England’s first group game against the USA on Saturday week.

Gareth Barry believes Manchester City's expensively-assembled squad is peaking at just the right time, as the club chase Champions League qualification via a top-four finish.

The Eastlands outfit currently possess the all-important fourth spot in the Premier League, and after a slow start to the campaign the midfielder believes the team's strong performances in recent weeks, most notably a 6-1 demolition of Burnley followed by a 5-1 triumph against Birmingham City, should be a warning to rivals.

"It was always going to be tough at the start," Barry told the club's official website.

While our experience with high-profile Brazilian signings here at Manchester City has been at best a mixed bag, we have had better luck with the Argentines Carlos Tevez and Pablo Zabaleta. Given that foreign players can find it hard to adapt to Premiership football and life in England, it is tempting to look at other Argentines as transfer targets with Tevez and Zabaleta available to help them settle.

Sport.co.uk understands that Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has made an undisclosed bid for Real Madrid defensive midfielder Fernando Gago, rumoured to be in the region of £15 million according to Spanish publication Marca.

Manchester City’s Gareth Barry praised team-mate Carlos Tevez after the striker scored two goals in the 2-1 win over Manchester United at Eastlands. City fell behind to an early Ryan Giggs goal, but Tevez netted either side of half-time to give his side the lead going into next week's League Cup semi-final second leg, and Barry believes Tevez’s display was key to City’s victory.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has said he will not contest a Football Association charge of improper conduct but has requested a personal hearing.

Bruce was charged over comments made about referee Andre Marriner following Michael Turner's red card in December's 4-3 defeat by Manchester City.

Bruce told the Sunderland Echo: "I have accepted the charge of disrepute and I have decided not to fight it. But I have asked to go down there to give my mitigation face-to-face. Hopefully it will be worthwhile to at least explain things from my point of view."

Alonso revealed in an interview yesterday that Liverpool’s pursuit of former Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry in the summer of 2008 was the catalyst for his eventual £30 million move away from the club. The deal failed to materialise and Alonso remained at Liverpool for one more season. However, the foundations had been laid for the Spaniard to move away from the club as he was left feeling unwanted by manager Rafa Benitez.