City sweat on Silva fitness

MANCHESTER City may have to take on Arsenal tomorrow without talismanic playmaker David Silva.

The attacking midfielder, who has been in sparkling form in recent matches, suffered an ankle injury in the 3-0 demolition of Manchester rivals United at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

He has since been undergoing intensive treatment, but will not be risked by boss Manual Pellegrini if there is a chance of aggravating the injury.

With the Barclays Premier League title race entering its business stage, City cannot afford to lose one of their top players for any length of time – particularly with star striker Sergio Aguero still struggling to shake off a hamstring injury.

Reports from the City camp suggest Aguero has an outside chance of playing at the Emirates Stadium in tomorrow's teatime showdown against ailing Arsenal, but with Edin Dzeko in two-goal form against United and Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic fit, Aguero is likely to be given more time to recover.

Arsenal, who have injury problems of their own with Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey still missing, will be looking to bounce back from two fatal blows to their own title hopes – the 6-0 defeat at Chelsea last Saturday and 2-2 midweek draw with Swansea.

THE pressure on United boss David Moyes could be cranked up at Old Trafford tomorrow when the Reds entertain Aston Villa.

Moyes had been lifted by the Champions League victory over Olympiacos and Premier League win at West Ham, but the humiliation at the hands of City saw a section of supporters turn on him after the game.

And a group of United fans are threatening to hire a light aircraft to tow a banner over Old Trafford with the message calling for Moyes to go, it has been claimed.

The action is in response to the contentious 'Chosen One' banner on display at Old Trafford despite calls for it to be removed in the wake of United's troubled season under Moyes.

A United fans' blog, therepublikofmancunia.com, claimed: "A group of United fans have raised £840 in a day to fund a plane to fly over Old Trafford with a message reading 'Wrong One – Moyes Out'.

"The message is in response to the Stretford End Flags banner which reads 'The Chosen One'."