Media round-up: Monday, 10th October

Joe Hart is relishing next summer's European Championships, despite the fact that England will predictably exit the tournament early following a series of lacklustre performances.

After his wildly misjudged criticism of the decision to send off Wayne Rooney on Friday night, Hart believes England can cope without the rotund, balding scouser. "It is not a blow for our chances because we've got a great team", Hart declared to a sniggering press pack.

The Daily Mail, meanwhile, report that Carlos Tevez is a target for Real Madrid after Diego Maradona revealed that Dubai club Al Wasl cannot afford to sign him. So confident are the Mail in their scoop that, um, none of their journalists has been willing to put his name to the story, which is accredited to an anonymous "Sportsmail Reporter". It's almost as if they fabricate these stories purely to get more hits, and thus advertising revenue, on their website...

Sky Sports claim that Corinthians are still interested in signing Tevez, and hope to get him on tick in the transfer window. "I'll sort you out next time I see you, I'm a bit short this week", blagged Director of Football Edu.

City are facing a striker crisis according to the Manchester Evening News, with Sergio Aguero and Mario Balotelli unlikely to feature against Aston Villa at the weekend. With Carlos Tevez also suspended by the club, options are limited so expect to see a forward three of Mancini, Platt and Kidd against Big Eck McLeish's side.