Villa Vs MCFC - Players/Locker Room Sunday 17th Aug K.O. 6.00pm

It's time to put your cricket bats and tennis racquets back in the spare room, and stop pretending that you actually quite enjoy the tortuous months of June and July, because the football is back!!!

Following a summer of turmoil that only Manchester City could possibly serve up, the magnificent Boys in Blue head to Villa Park on Sunday for their opening fixture of the 08/09 Premier League season. We may be skint, our owner may be a wanted fugitive, and we may have just tried to sell one of our best players to our closest league rivals. But this is Manchester City, and would you really want it any other way? Nah, me neither!

City will be without Jo, Darius Vassell and Benjani on Sunday, but with The Boj leading the line, who really cares? Richard Dunne will also be missing through suspension, so expect new signing Tal Ben Haim to step in alongside Micah Richards.

Last season's corresponding fixture ended 1-1, with Carew equalising after an early opener from Rolando Bianchi (remember him?!). Earlier in the season, The Blues beat Villa 1-0 at Eastlands courtesy of a sublime 48th minute strike from Michael Johnson.

Confusion reigns over the MCFC Dubai venue for this match but I think we're going to try a new system of Players' Lounge for Saturday games and the Locker Room (Golden Tulip Hotel, Barsha) for Sunday games throughout this season. However, there will most likely be representatives of MCFC Dubai in both those venues this Sunday because of the early kick-off, so take your pick. Come on City!!

Dave