Manchester City Ask FA To Change Wright-Phillips' Violent Conduct Charge,Ricardo Fuller Could Miss Rest Of Season For Stoke City

Manchester City Ask FA To Change Wright-Phillips' Violent Conduct Charge

Manchester City are to ask the football Association to make a change to the charge of violent conduct that threatens to land their England midfielder Shaun Wright-Phillips with a three match ban.

The player faces the charge as a result of kicking out in retaliation at Stoke City's Rory Delap in the recent game between the clubs at the Britannia Stadium. Delap had taken somewhat violent exception to a challenge by Wright-Phillips on a team-mate, and had kicked the diminutive winger twice, once whilst he was lying on the ground.

In those circumstances, the Blues have argued, perhaps a alternative charge would perhaps more accurately reflect 'natural justice', as Wright-Phillips faced extreme provocation, at least according to City boss Mark Hughes.

"We know Shaun retaliated but we have asked the FA to look at it again," the Welshman told The Manchester Evening News.

"We have made various representations to maybe having the charge changed from violent conduct to something less.

"How successful we are, we will have to wait and see."

City had successfully appealed for more time for the case to be heard, which meant that Wright-Phillips was free to play in the 1-0 victory over Middelsbrough at Eastlands on Saturday. The case will now be heard on Monday morning, though many observers feel that their latest appeal has significantly less chance of success.



Ricardo Fuller Could Miss Rest Of Season For Stoke City

After making a return from suspension recently for slapping his own skipper during his team's game at West Ham United, it now looks as though Stoke City striker Ricardo Fuller is facing another, more lengthy, spell on the sidelines.

The striker dislocated his shoulder yesterday after falling awkwardly during the Potters' 2-0 defeat yesterday to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, and it now looks as though he will be out for at least three months.

With Stoke battling relegation, and the striker one of their most effective performers so far this season, it is not good news for the men from Staffordshire, who also had Matthew Etherington sent off in yesterday's game. Fuller has netted six goals this season, making him the club's top scorer, though he has failed to find the net since the end of November.

"It's a very disappointing injury. We could lose him for the rest of the season," Potters boss Tony Pulis told BBC Radio Stoke earlier.

Pulis is hoping that Fuller's fellow striker Mamady Sidibe can now recover more quickly than expected from the knee injury he sustained against Fulham on December 13. The Potters gaffer would like to see his team score more goals, and wants increased competition for his January striker signings James Beattie and Henri Camara.

"We can't wait to get Mama back, he's vital for us and we've missed him immensely," the Welshman added.

"People are only just realising how important he is. Sometimes he doesn't get the credit he deserves but he's a very important part of the club."

"At times we've lacked a yard of pace up front, and we've got that now with Matthew Etherington and Henri Camara," added Pulis.

"The main area for us to have competition is up front because we need to score more goals."