CRAIG Bellamy only wants to leave Manchester City on LOAN - so he can return and prove his worth in the future.

The fiery Welshman is not in manager Roberto Mancini first-team plans and could even be left out of City's 25-man Premier League squad following the arrival of Spanish star David Silva.

Bellamy is keen on a move to Harry Redknapp's Tottenham, but Celtic are also interested while his home town club Cardiff City still cling on to a forlorn hope that he will choose them if he fails to find a home in this transfer window. He has made no secret of the fact that he'd like to end his career at Cardiff, but the Bluebirds' financial woes make that move impossible at the moment.

However, Bellamy does not want to move anywhere permanently this summer and that surprise news was flashed to all interested clubs last week.

The hitman reckons he could yet return to Eastlands and prove to Mancini that he can still do a job for the Eastlands club.

Meanwhile, City are ready to give Gai Assulin a shock 'debut' this week - with the former Barcelona babe close to clinching a move.

Israeli attacking midfielder Assulin has spent a successful week in training at City and is set to feature in a strong City side at Southport on Tuesday.

The youngster - a free agent after securing his release from the Spanish giants - hopes to prove he is worth a contract.

SHEFFIELD UNITED have nipped in for left-back Stephen Jordan as boss Kevin Blackwell adds to his defensive options.

Jordan, 28, had been training with Portsmouth after his release from Burnley, but underwent a Blades medical on Friday.

Blackwell also wants to add Hungarian right-back Laszlo Bodnar and Arsenal's Kyle Bartley on loan before the end of the month.

By : Alan Nixon