Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has allayed fears over yet another injury to star-striker Sergio Aguero, insisting the Argentine came off as a ‘precaution’ in City’s win over Southampton.

The returns of Michael Carrick and the much-maligned Marouane Fellaini have gone some way to adding steel to a midfield that was all but absent in the opening weeks of the season.

The embers of controversy that began with the hiring of Malky Mackay, whose racially-insensitive texts landed him in hot water earlier in the season, were stoked into a blaze by apparent racial slurs made by Wigan owner Dave Whelan.

The momentum that was building around Giggs taking over as full-time manager was halted by United’s seventh home league defeat of the season against Sunderland on Saturday

City sit in fourth spot, six points behind league leaders Chelsea, with three games in hand

Steve Bruce speaks about his team’s chances against Manchester City this weekend

Solskjaer handed Cardiff City job with club in relegation battle

The Scot retires as Manchester United manager after 26 years