Hectic fixture list is taking its toll

The City kit boss and former Latics star writes every week for Chron Sport

THE sheer number of games City is playing seems to be catching up with the players.

Injuries to lads like Aguero, Nasri, Fernandinho and Negredo are disrupting things as it’s now two games without a goal.

The number of injuries the manager is having to handle is bound to have an impact - coupled with the fact we’re still in every competition and every match is starting to feel like a cup final.

December and January were both really hectic months with lots of travelling, and February is going to be no different.

Hopefully the players can get back on track tomorrow when Sunderland are the opponents at the Etihad.

They’ve had a decent little run since Gus Poyet came in, though they must have been disappointed to lose to Hull at home at the weekend.

For us on Saturday it’s back to the FA Cup and another massive Etihad clash, this time against Chelsea.

We owe them one after last week’s defeat in the Premier League!

Whoever wins that game will be strongly fancied to win the competition, so the manager will know exactly how much is at stake.

As a player the farthest I reached in the FA Cup was the quarter-finals. And what a memory I have of playing for Huddersfield against Stoke City in 1971. We were 4-2 up late in the game and Frank Worthington charged clear of the defence and only had Gordon Banks to beat to make it 5-2.

For some reason Frank thought he was offside, so he just passed the ball back to Banksy. It turns out he wasn’t offside - and if he’d carried on, the goal would have stood!

Anyway, Stoke went on to score two late goals so the game went to a replay, also drawn.

In those days teams then went to a second replay. This time it was at Old Trafford, and we lost 1-0... Happy days!