Whither Now, Benjani?

Benjani Mwaruwari's football career is at something of a standstill. Sidelined at City with seemingly no Eastlands future, what next for the big Zimbabwean..?

Starting with The Blues, Mark Hughes, having overhauled his squad has settled upon five strikers to see us through until January. Bellamy, Robinho, Tevez, Adebayor and the still in surgery rehabilitation Roque Santa Cruz. Even before Crocky becomes finally available, it's clear that Sparky doesn't intend to hold on to Benjani.

The former Portsmouth player almost left us on loan twice at the close of the summer transfer window. Once to Hull City and then secondly to West Ham United but both deals collapsed for differing personal reasons. These episodes closed off the possibility of Benjani joining another Premier League club this side of Christmas. So who else will take him on?

It's already known that Sven-Goran Eriksson, the new Notts County supremo, former Blues chief and the man who brought Benjani to Eastlands is a big admirer and could be prepared to move for the striker under Football League emergency loan rules.

But this weekend, Benjani's former club Portmouth, who were fined for irregularities surrounding his transfer to City are interested in signing him again.

Pompey CEO Peter Storrie picks up the story:

'We would be very keen to bring Benji back. He has this thigh injury and nobody knows exactly what it is. He has broken down on it twice now and they tell me he could be a couple of weeks away. It would have been a hell of a risk because, if the thigh goes again, he will be out for three or four months. Our people are just waiting to see him play and we will revisit the situation again in January.'

Right now it's highly unlikely that comeback would be in a City shirt....or is it? Considering the serious injury records of certainly Bellamy and Santa Cruz, should Sparky settle upon a six man strike force?

Give us your view both here and in the Vital MC Forums...

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