THE managerial changes at Manchester City are unlikely to prevent Peter Beardsley making his debut against Ipswich at Maine Road tonight.

The former England international left Wanderers for a month's loan with the Blues yesterday after being transfer-listed by Colin Todd.

On his arrival, he criticised the Bolton boss for the way he had been dealt with following his £500,000 transfer from Newcastle in August, complaining: "When you get dropped after three games, what can you do? I think everybody when they come to a new club gets at least 10 to a dozen games to settle. Unfortunately I didn't."

Todd was reluctant to make an issue of Beardsley's comments other than to point out that he did not drop him after three games, adding: "It's wrong for Peter to say he has not been involved because he has. But it hasn't worked out and I think everybody would accept that, including Peter himself."

Robbie Elliott has taken a major step along the road to recovery.

The Wanderers full-back, who broke his leg on his home debut just weeks after his £2.3 million transfer from Newcastle, has checked in at the FA's rehabilitation centre at Lilleshall.

Plans to re-sign Bob Taylor on loan from West Brom have been scuppered by the Baggies' injury problems. The 31-year-old striker, who completed a four-match loan stint with Wanderers after scoring the goal that earned a 1-1 draw at Manchester United, is back in the Albion side because of injuries to Andy Hunt and Micky Evans.

Taylor got the goal in last night's 2-1 Division One defeat at Oxford.

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