Keeper training with City

Halmstad hope Johnsson will evolve

By Richard Torgerson   Last updated: 19th November 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Keeper training with City

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Halmstad have allowed highly-rated goalkeeper Karl-Johan Johnsson to link up with Manchester City.

The 18-year-old will spend a week training with City, although the Swedish outfit have been quick to stress that he is not on trial.

Halmstad are keen for Johnsson to learn from the experience and hopefully develop as a player.

"It is on our initiative that he is there. It is an educational week, i.e. only encouragement," Halmstad chairwoman Birgitta Johansson told Fotbollskanalen.se.

"It is through contacts of assistant coach Jonas Wirmola that Karl-Johan has been given this chance to train with City."

Halmstad's Swedish rivals Elfsborg allowed goalkeeper Abbas Hassan to fly to Manchester under similar conditions last year.

City were understood to be keen on signing Hassan, while he also wanted to put pen-to-paper on a deal.

A move did not materialise and Johansson insists Halmstad are not worried about City trying to bring in Johnsson.

"Absolutely not," she said. "We only see the up-side of this and it is a good way for Karl-Johan to evolve as a player."

City are currently without first-choice goalkeeper Joe Hart after he was ruled out for three to four weeks with an ankle problem.