Sturridge set to stake claim

DANIEL STURRIDGE will tomorrow be given the chance to stake a claim for a first-team place at Manchester City, writes TONY BUGBY.

The teenager is to play in tomorrow’s friendly against German Bundesliga side Hamburg as manager Mark Hughes contemplates the loss of three senior strikers for the start of the season.

Brazilian Jo will be in action at the Olympic Games while Benjani and Valeri Bojinov miss the beginning of the campaign through injury.

Hughes is looking to bolster his strikeforce and has been linked with a move for West Ham’s Craig Bellamy, whom he managed at both Blackburn and for Wales.

The City chief is also looking to sign an experienced goalkeeper, as back-up for young shot-stoppers Joe Hart and Kasper Schmeichel.

UNITED have flown out three of their young players to bolster their squad for the final two games of the tour of South Africa. Brazilian Rodrigo Possebon, Tom Cleverley and Craig Cathcart have been added to the party.

The Reds play Orlando Pirates this weekend in the final of the Vodacom Challenge before heading to Nigeria to play Portsmouth in a friendly.

United striker Febian Brandy has rejoined Swansea City for a second loan spell of six months.