Macheda puts his foot in it

Manchester United

Federico Macheda may be in line for a tricky return to Old Trafford after an indiscreet comment to Italian journalists about Wayne Rooney, his beleaguered Manchester United teammate. Rooney, criticised in the past for swearing and spitting, was electric last season but struggled at the World Cup and has been in poor form this term while allegations about his private life have filled the tabloids. "Rooney is a really great person, he always gives me advice, but he's a bit working class and vulgar," Macheda, a Roman who himself hails from the inner city like Liverpool-born Rooney, told Gazzetta dello Sport while in Italy with the Under 21 team.

Manchester City 

Patrick Vieira, World Cup winner with France, is likely to end his career at Manchester City. The 34-year-old midfielder told French newspaper the Dauphine Libere that French clubs had been in contact with him "but nothing concrete" had emerged and that he will probably finish his career at the Premier League club after "this season or the next one." Only three members of France's 1998 World Cup winning squad are still playing: Vieira and two former Arsenal teammates - Robert Pires, currently without a club and Thierry Henry, the New York Red Bulls striker who retired from international football in July. Vieira joined City in January and has scored one goal in two league matches this season.

Arsenal 

Vito Mannone is getting itchy feet in England after failing to break through again at Arsenal this season despite Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski struggling at times. "It hurts to not play especially when the other two are not doing great," Mannone, the Italy Under 21 goalkeeper said. "I'll see, here the situation at Arsenal is not normal, I'd do six months on loan to play. AC Milan has been a dream since I was a kid."

Birmingham City 

Joe Hart's spell at Birmingham was vital to him reaching the level required to be England's No 1, according to Alex McLeish, the manager of the Midlands club. The Manchester City keeper impressed last season on loan at St Andrew's. "I was the worst critic of my goalkeepers when I played for 18 years at Aberdeen and Scotland," McLeish said. "We looked at Joe Hart's game last year after the first few games. At the time, one of the things was that Joe was punching everything. I said 'Joe, you are 6ft 4ins tall, you're the only guy who can use your hands in the box'."

Wolves 

Mick McCarthy, the Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, has handed the captaincy to Jody Craddock, the veteran defender, while Karl Henry serves his suspension. Craddock, 35, will lead the side in the clash with West Ham United at Molineux a week on Saturday as regular captain Henry begins a three-game ban following his red card at Wigan Athletic. "He has been fabulous for us this season. His performances have been outstanding," said McCarthy. "He has been our best defender."

Chelsea 

Chelsea have reiterated their desire to remain at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea are continuing to look at other ways of building their income streams to match the type of revenues Manchester United and Arsenal claim from their gate receipts, but say it would be hard to move ground. "There is a lot of history and tradition at Stamford Bridge," said Bruce Buck, the club chairman. "The club has been here since 1905 and so it's very, very difficult for us to make the philosophical decision that we are going to move on."

* Agencies