Eriksson: Schmeichel is number one

Manchester City's young goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has been told he will remain number one choice.



City's experienced goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson is back in full training.

Schmeichel, 20, the son of Manchester United great Peter, has been an outstanding success this season, taking advantage of injuries to Isaksson and England Under-21 goalkeeper Joe Hart to claim a first-team place.

But now manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has Isaksson back in full training there is likely to be renewed competition for Schmeichel.

Eriksson said: "Kasper has done very well and if I had all three of my keepers available, including Joe Hart, I can see no reason why I would change Schmeichel now.

"He has been absolutely perfect, so it is up to the others to show me that they are better. I have not spoken to Kasper about this, he's 20 years old so I do not put pressure on him.

"If he continues to play like this, why should I change now? But it is a long season, many things can happen.

very brave

"But he has shown such maturity for someone so young and you feel his presence around the box even for a lad who is not the tallest keeper.

"He is very brave, he talks to his defenders, he has been absolutely fantastic for us.

"His penalty save at Arsenal was excellent, and when that happened I felt we would get something from the game. I am sure that was the feeling of a lot of people watching.

"He reminds me a lot of his father, he comes off his line well and makes himself big, although his father was taller and bigger than he is."

Striker Rolando Bianchi, substitute in the last two matches, could also start against Bristol City in the Carling Cup on Wednesday evening.

Eriksson is also trying to offload squad players Paul Dickov, Danny Mills, Bernardo Corradi, Georgios Samaras and Darius Vassell before the transfer window shuts.