New injury blow for Macca

Manchester City star Steve McManaman faces a new spell on the sidelines.

McManaman has made just one appearance for City this season because of the problem and City boss Kevin Keegan hopes that an extended rest period will finally help him overcome the injury.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid man is set to face up to a month out of action, as he bids to regain full fitness.

"Macca is wearing a special boot at the moment as he has got a little problem with his Achilles," Keegan told the club's official website.

"We have had a chat about it. He can train with it and probably get away with it, but he can't do everything all the time with the injury.

"Warming up, for example takes him, an extra ten or fifteen minutes, so when we had a chat, we decided that he should rest it.

"With the internationals, he hasn't missed anything last weekend and it won't take a lot to get him fit again.

"He will miss the match with Everton on Saturday and probably the next two games as well against Crystal Palace and Barnsley.

"But after that, he will be available and it is not as if, at the moment, we are short of midfielder players."

Meanwhile, City trialist Bernard Diomede is set to play for the club's reserves against Birmingham City on Tuesday.

The former Liverpool misfit has been training with City for the last week in a bid to secure a move to the Eastlands outfit and he will get the chance to impress Keegan against Blues.