Incredible Sulk stars in soap opera

Perhaps he has now decided that the task is beyond him. Certainly it is inconceivable that the normally well-informed Manchester Evening News would run a story effectively admitting that Anelka was for sale without the consent of the money men at Manchester City.

According to sources inside the dressing room, Anelka refused to join in with the archery and crossbow sessions when Keegan took the team away for a bonding exercise last month. Anelka missed the following game, a 2-0 win at Southampton-with what Keegan described as a calf strain, but it is clear that since then Anelka has not enjoyed the full support of his team-mates.

There are even those who suggest that the players raised their game against Southampton to prove to Keegan and the Frenchman, that they could win without him.

There is no doubting Anelka's striking talents but he is as frustrated as Keegan by the inability to find the right attacking partner.

That person, as Alex Ferguson will probably have noted, may be Ruud van Nistelrooy at Old Trafford.

The Dutch striker also needs a settled partner and there is little doubt the pair would be a potent force in the Premiership. Keegan may have publicly vetoed the sale of the 24-year-old with his comments yesterday but even he is not averse to the odd controversial deal when the price is right.

After all, as manager of Newcastle Keegan once sold the hugely popular Andy Cole to Ferguson.

Tonight, Anelka is likely to be partnered by Robbie Fowler in the fourth round of the Carling Cup against Tottenham because Paulo Wanchope has a knee injury.

City will also be without keeper David Seaman, who has hamstring and rib injuries. Kevin Ellegaard continues in goal with Peter Schmeichel's teenage son Kasper one of the substitutes.

Meanwhile, Spurs defender Dean Richards today urged the club to forget about making another managerial change this season. David Pleat has been in charge since Glenn Hoddle was sacked in September and the club are set to make an announcement about their managerial plans later this month.

But Richards believes the board should give the players some stability. He said: "We have just got used to the way David is doing things. We have got to stick with what we are doing, grind out a few results. Some continuity would suit the team."

Spurs are likely to be unchanged from the side that lost to Blackburn but Pleat hopes that injured striker Freddie Kanoute, out for six weeks with ankle ligament trouble, will be on the bench.