Van Persie To Get His Wish

Last updated : 16 September 2009 By Master Bob

City have ‘reluctantly accepted’ Emmanuel Adebayor’s charge of violent conduct.

The striker was charged following his challenge on former teammate Robin van Persie during Saturday’s 4-2 victory over the Gunners. The Dutchman was quick to release a statement on the club’s website saying Adebayor set out to deliberately injure him which looked like a clear attempt to persuade the FA to suspend the City man.

The FA subsequently charged City’s top scorer on Tuesday and will discover his punishment on Thursday if he is found guilty. The striker was also charged with improper conduct following his goal celebrations after scoring City’s third but the club have until the end of the month to answer that charge and are optimistic the striker will avoid a further suspension as the referee took action and booked Adebayor at the time of the incident.

The blues will now be set for just one striker in Craig Bellamy for Sunday’s derby at Old Trafford unless Carlos Tevez makes a remarkable recovery from injury to face his old teammates.