Gilks aiming to stop City stars

A FORMER Heyside Juniors player has the unenviable task of frustrating Manchester City’s expensively-assembled forward line on Sunday.

Blackpool goalkeeper Matt Gilks (28) faces Carlos Tevez, David Silva, James Milner and co. at Bloomfield Road as the Tangerines bid to upset the Barclays Premier League apple cart once again.

Ian Holloway’s side have already defeated Newcastle United and Liverpool, although both victories came on the road.

It has been quite a rise to prominence for ex-Rochdale stopper Gilks, who turned out for Brian Bakes’ under-13s side at Heyside.

He hardly figured under Simon Grayson at Blackpool, but Holloway’s arrival saw him elevated to number one.

And after shining in his new top flight surroundings, Gilks earned his first Scotland call-up last month for the double-header against Lithuania and Liechtenstein.

The local link to Sunday’s televised clash doesn’t end there. The two club secretaries, Matt Williams at Blackpool and City’s Rebecca Baker, renew an old acquaintance.

Williams scored for Shaw in the Saddleworth and District League when Baker fulfilled the same role for Heyside.

City are expected to be without Yaya Toure, who has a knee problem.

Micah Richards has declared himself fit, following a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney is facing an anxious wait to see if he is recalled to the Manchester United team tomorrow when they face West Brom at Old Trafford.

The striker could be on collision course with manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who said he was left out of his side's past two games because of an ankle injury.

But when asked after England's 0–0 draw with Montenegro if his ankle had caused any problems, Rooney replied: "No, I have had no ankle problems all season."

England physio Gary Lewin confirmed Rooney was not hampered by injury during his latest stint with the national side.