Said Micky Adams, who is expected to field John in one of the matches over the Christmas/New Year period:"I obviously don't read the same papers as you lot. "That one wasn't in my Sunday Sport"
Meanwhile, George Boateng is expected to be out of action for two months. The midfielder who joined City from Feyenoord and now with Middlesbrough, picked up an ankle ligament injury during Middlesbrough's 1-0 Carling Cup midweek defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers.
Managers have a different view of the Christmas Period. Former Sky Blue defender Stuart Pearce had told his Manchester City players to have Christmas Day off and come back on Boxing Day refreshed, whilst Super Sam Allardyce has told his players to forget about Christmas and concentrate on the forthcoming matches. Micky Adams will have the players in for training before they head off on Christmas night to Leeds for the Boxing Day game at Elland Road.