Kompany injury blow

Some not so positive news following yesterdays victory:

Manchester City have been hit by a fresh injury problem with Vincent Kompany expected to be out for at least two weeks with a groin strain.

The big defender, who has been a revelation at centre-back during City's defensive injury crisis, limped out of Sunday's 2-0 win over Portsmouth.

With the emergence of Dedryck Boyata and return to the line up of Kolo Toure (plus the imminent return of Kolo Toure) the centre of defence is not an area we are particularly short in.

However, Kompany has been excellent since he stepped into the breach when Roberto Mancini arrived amidst a raft of injuries. So much so that he must be in contention for the January player of the month award (although like JPB I think Tevez has shaded it) and has been both an assuring and commanding presence at the back.

Kompany talks up Mancini

An interesting look at the changes Mancini has introduced from a player who looks set to feature heavily in the immediate future at least:

"It's not an emphasis on defence. I believe that he pays a lot of attention to details, and he makes it clear what he wants. Everybody on that pitch knows exactly what he has to do.

"We do a lot of drills and work on tactical situations every day. There's a lot of emphasis on tactics and intelligent football, before power and pace.

"He's got his own approach to the job, but drills are quite usual with a lot of Continental teams, though maybe it's something new for some of the English players.

"You have to use your brain, it's not just about enjoying your football. It demands concentration as well. I enjoy it because I'm a big supporter of the tactical approach. I'm a believer."

Kompany keen to return

"I finally got 90 minutes to run around and make some tackles and I really enjoyed it. I made a lot of good, strong challenges, which is a big part of my game.

"I'm looking forward to pushing for a first-team starting place. The competition doesn't bother me. I'm just as much competition to the others. I hope to be in there in the near future. I'm not there yet but I'm on my way. I'm starting to feel like I did when I first joined City last season. I feel like I can maybe reach even better levels than I did then.

"I'm happy, but I'm realistic as well. I know I need to be able to perform well consistently."

>>mcfc.co.uk

Kompany certainly finds himself in a tough spot at the moment.

Outstanding last season, his consistency and level of play stood out amist the sea change that Hughes was trying to introduce at the club. So much so that he was thought of as a front runner to take the captains armband.

Injury (ironically atrributed to playing through injury last season) curtailed his pre-season and it is only recently that he has returned to full fitness and ready for selection.

It is difficult to see where he will fit in though. In midfield, Nigel de Jong has been excellent in the holding role this season and arguably our most consistent performer so far. I don't see Hughes opting for two defensive-minded midfielders, preferring to us Gareth Barry in a more withdrawn role if required so unless de Jong suffers injury or a sudden loss of form he will struggle to regain his place there.

It is thought that the centre of defence is Kompany's best position, and this is an area often discussed in recent times. Kompany did fill in there at Birmingham and looked very assured. However, Kolo Toure has done little to warrant the axe and Joleon Lescott - for all his early stuggles - has looked more assured of late. Hughes will also be reluctant to jettison a player he invested so much time and money into acquiring.

Interesting also to note that last weekend at Anfield it was Nedum Onouha, and not Kompany who was brought onto to replace the injured Toure. This may have been because a more like for like move was sought but served to reinforce the difficulty that Kompany has in retaining the starting place he was so unlucky to lose.

Kompany and Johnson feature for reserves

Vincent Kompany and Michael Johnson both came through a full 90 minute work-out for the reserves, but could not help to force a win away to Blackburn.

Glyn Hodges' side battled away to a 1-1 draw on a wet and blustery night on a heavy pitch at Leigh Sports Village, City's goal coming from James Poole on the stroke of half-time.

Benjani also completed the game, in which Kompany partnered Johnson in an experienced midfield combination. The hosts went ahead through Gavin Gunning, who headed home powerfully at a corner on 18 minutes. Rovers had the better of the first half, but City had momentum going into the break when James Poole, a thorn in Rovers' side all night, swept a Benjani cross home just before the whistle.

>>mcfc.co.uk

Kompany pens new deal

Vincent Kompany - who made his first appearance of the season yesterday at Wigan - has signed an extension to his current deal:

Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany has signed a new five-year deal with the Premier League club that will keep him at Eastlands until 2014.

Kompany, 23, was signed from German side Hamburg in August 2008.

I suppose the news came a little out of nowhere but perhaps - given he was only a year into his existing deal - brings him into a line with some of the bigger earners who arrived this summer. If so, we may be set to see some more restructuring of current deals for other squad members.

In signing the deal, Kompany highlighted the changing nature of the squad from that he found when he arrived last season:

“There has been no speculation (on reports linking him to a move away from the club) from my side because I have just signed the new deal but it is the kind of thing you have to get used to when you play for this club now."

“In the end you just don’t pay attention to the speculation. City’s ambitions are my ambitions and I want to be one of the main players in a very big team. We are now a mature side now and the big improvements this season have been in mentality and professionalism. That is why we are better than we were last season."

And although he faces a fight to get into the starting line up, Mark Hughes clearly sees him as the type of player that he wants to epitomise his squad:

“He has been desperate to get back into action and in fact we have had to hold him back a little since his operation in the summer such was his desire to return to action.

“But that is the kind of lad that he is. He is still only 23-years-old but is so mature in his outlook; that is why I made him captain last season on occasions. He wants to improve, he is ambitious and he is desperate for success. He was one of our most reliable performers last season and it is great that we have been able to secure his services for the next five years. It is another sign of our commitment to young talent. Vincent is a big part of our future.”

Positive injury news

Positive news during international week for three of our players who have missed the start of the 2009/10 season.

On Roque Santa Cruz:

“We're happy with him, as I've said before we have to give him the time he needs, and he is working really hard. He's desperate to play, but we're holding him back a bit because we have a break at the moment.

“The internationals actually come at a good time for him, psychologically he's not missing any more games but he's adding to his fitness. When Roque is ready he will be involved, we want to get him in a City shirt and out there playing because he is going to be a big asset for us. With our options up front, we can give him the time he needs.

“We're looking at the long-term with him, if we introduced him too early we could still lose him on a longer basis. Roque understands our thinking over this, he's a bit frustrated but we will all benefit from it.”

On Vincent Kompany:

“Vinnie’s doing well; we are having to try to keep the reins on him too,” reported the boss. “The bone in the toe needs the time it deserves to heal, if you don't do that then the player is compromised. It will heal in its own time, but he is pain-free and raring to go.”

On Michael Johnson:

“We're positive, Michael saw a specialist a few weeks back, was very happy afterwards and since then we have been building up his fitness. The approach we are taking with Michael is that we want to give him games to give him a base level of fitness,” explained Hughes.

“He's been out for a year; if we rush him back he could break down. We'll get him involved with the reserves, and if we get him and the other two up and running in the next month or so it would be like three new signings for us.”

It is a measure of our progress this year that even with the above trio absent, we have managed their loss and not looked a weak side, something that would not be true even last season where the loss of a trio such as Santa Cruz, Kompany and Johnson would be damaging indeed.

Whilst the return of Kompany and Santa Cruz will give the squad an even stronger look, it is the return of the Johnson that for most will be the exciting one. Out for nearly eighteen months with injury it is the memory of his superb start to the 2007/08 season that we are left with, and the thought that even with a squad with the depth we now have, Johnson could well be a key component.

Komany ruled out for start of the season

The Manchester City midfielder Vincent Kompany is scheduled for a foot operation that is certain to rule him out for the start of the Premier League campaign, the club have confirmed.

Kompany returned early from their training week in Bavaria and the manager, Mark Hughes,is resigned to losing his services to try to solve the problem of the Belgium international's nagging toe injury.

The midfielder endured painkilling injections and wore specially adapted boots in the second half of last season following his arrival from Hamburg.

>>guardian.co.uk

Whilst Kompany was a key part of the team last season, if we are to mount a serious challenge on the top four during 2009/10, the loss of key players is something that we have to contend with. During 2008/09, when key players were missing, we did suffer and the squad at times looked very light indeed.

Now, we do look stronger in most areas and we should be able to absorb the loss of Kompany given the alternatives we have (particularly in midfield). The worry for Kompany is that should he miss significant playing time and we start the season well, he could go from potential captain to on the outside.

Who's Kompany?

"There is a president with ambition, players with ambition, coaches with ambition, a manager with ambition and that helped me to make this decision.

"I just had a good feeling with everybody I was talking to inside the club. I felt some kind of dynamic.

"When you feel that there are dynamic people, and who have knowledge about football and stuff like this, you know you are in a good environment to improve."

>>Vincent Kompany.

From what little I've seen of Kompany, he has always impressed.

He appears to be a young, ambitious player - exactly the kind we should be looking to bring in to the club and I have no doubt that Mark Hughes will be looking to deploy him in midfield rather than defence.

Hughes himself was clearly enamoured, and delighted to bring him to the club:

"Vincent is one of the outstanding talents in Europe. He understands the ambition of the club. He understands where we want to take the club.

"We want to be a young, vibrant team with energy and technical ability. He comes into the category of the kind of young player we are trying to attract."

More on Kompany

• Wikipedia
• YouTube
• OleOle

City enjoy some Kompany

Manchester City have agreed a fee to sign Belgium
international defender Vincent Kompany from Hamburg, according to the German
club.
The 22-year-old defender, who has played 23 times for his country
began his career at Belgian club Anderlecht.

>>press association.

Despite my reticence about bringing in defensive reinforcements when the Silvestre story emerged, if we do land Kompany, I would be far happier.

No official word yet from ourselves, but I'll update later as and when an announcement is made.

UPDATE:

The story is beginning to be reported quite widely now, with the MEN suggesting Mark Hughes has him lined up for a role as the 'holding midfielder', whilst this Tottenham site is hopeful that it will mean the Corluka deal is to be resurrected.

UPDATE:

Official confirmation from the club has arrived this morning, and they are hopeful to get clearance for him in time to make his debut at home to West Ham this Sunday.