MANCHESTER //It can be the winger's lot that his position, particularly if he hugs the touchline, can bring him closer to his manager than many of his teammates.
And so it was that many of the abiding images of Adam Johnson's Manchester City career were of Roberto Mancini at the edge of his technical area, barking orders at the 25 year old.
Generally they seemed to involve defensive discipline, a subject of rather greater interest to the Italian than the Englishman.
It always appeared a reason why Mancini was reluctant to trust Johnson.
Now, as the winger returns to Etihad Stadium for the first time since his August move to Sunderland and his native North East, a different message came from his former manager.
"I like Adam," Mancini said. "He is a good player and a good guy."
Johnson spoke similarly fondly.
"I've never been back to an old club in my career, but I had great times there, winning the league and FA Cup," he said. "I'll always see it as a big part of my career. I'm looking forward to going back and seeing a lot of old friends there."
Sunderland's summer signing frustrated Mancini at times with his lifestyle but the Italian was an admirer of his ability.
However, a crowd favourite still became a back-up plan, deprived of action on the major stages.
Consider Johnson's final season in Manchester. While he scored six times and featured in two-thirds of league matches, he started just over a quarter. Only three of those were away - at Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland and Aston Villa. He began home games against Swansea City, Wigan Athletic, Villa, Stoke, Fulham, Blackburn and Bolton Wanderers.
In other words, he never started against a side who finished in the top eight. His unpredictability seemed to count against Johnson, never fully trusted by Mancini despite decent levels of performance.
"I think Adam played well here," said Mancini. "The problem may be that he didn't play always. For young players like him it is important to play every game."
It may constitute a warning to Scott Sinclair, another English winger and the man signed as Johnson's replacement, that he is destined to be a squad player. Unable to dislodge David Silva and Samir Nasri from the side, Johnson's difficulties were compounded his status as the fall guy. He became the first man substituted when Mancini wanted to change tack.
He was hauled off after 39 minutes against Villarreal in the Champions League and at half time versus Manchester United in the FA Cup, both in tactical switches. He ended the season a fringe figure, one ready for a new challenge.
"He wanted to play every game," Mancini said. "Here it was difficult."
Hence the move to Sunderland, the town of his birth. Johnson has not featured frequently there, either, but that has been due to a thigh injury rather than managerial choice.
This should be just his second league appearance since his £10 million (Dh59.5m) move. Mancini expects him to excel. Indeed, he believes his talent may shine too brightly for Sunderland's liking.
There was a scramble for Johnson's services in 2010, when City signed him from Middlesbrough, and their manager said the elite clubs will come calling again.
"He will do well for Sunderland and go to another top team because he deserves this," Mancini said. "I think he is a really good player."
The worry for City is that he proves it today.
Should a slaloming run take him past a series of teammates, should a cross be delivered on to the head of the prolific Steven Fletcher, should a left-footed shot curl into the corner of Joe Hart's goal, there will be a sense of what might have been.
And yet in the broader scheme of things, his was a move that should suit everyone: City, Sunderland and Johnson himself.
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21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Yuval Noah Harari, Jonathan Cape
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The Orwell Prize for Political Writing
Twelve books were longlisted for The Orwell Prize for Political Writing. The non-fiction works cover various themes from education, gender bias, and the environment to surveillance and political power. Some of the books that made it to the non-fiction longlist include:
- Appeasing Hitler: Chamberlain, Churchill and the Road to War by Tim Bouverie
- Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me by Kate Clanchy
- Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez
- Follow Me, Akhi: The Online World of British Muslims by Hussein Kesvani
- Guest House for Young Widows: Among the Women of ISIS by Azadeh Moaveni
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
PRISCILLA
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City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
