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Back Pages Tonight: A First Look at the Sports Stories in the Morning’s Newspapers

As the sports world prepares for a busy weekend of football, Sky Sports News brings you a first look at the sports stories in the morning’s newspapers. Joining us are Mark Ogden, senior writer for ESPN, and Ian Ladyman, football editor for the Daily Mail.

Pep Fuming Over Grealish Call-Up

The Mail leads with the story of Pep Guardiola’s anger over Jack Grealish’s call-up to the England squad. Grealish has not played for Manchester City since October, and Guardiola insists that he is not fit to play. Ian Ladyman explains the situation: "Jack G hasn’t started a game for Manchester City for about a month. He’s not been fit and Pep Guardiola insists that he’s not fit and not ready to play for his club. So, why can he be ready to play for England?"

Title Race Update

The Times leads with the headline "No One Will Run Away with the Title," citing Roma’s recent poor form and Manchester City’s ability to drop points. Mark Ogden believes that the title race may not be about winning the Premier League, but about any trophy or cup. He also thinks that Jose Mourinho’s potential arrival at Newcastle would not be a boost for the club.

Rugby Union

The Telegraph reports on a controversy in rugby union, with hosts accused of deliberately playing rivals’ music poorly. Ian Ladyman believes that this is just an act of disrespect and that the singer should not have been used to perform the anthem.

Manchester City’s Future

Jamie Carger has expressed concerns about Manchester City’s ability to replace Rodri, citing the 115-day barrier to finding a replacement. Mark Ogden agrees that this is a cogent point, especially given the uncertainty surrounding the club’s future in the wake of the FFP investigation.

Rud van Nistelrooy’s Future

Mike McGr reports that Rud van Nistelrooy still sees the Manchester United job as his ambition. Mark Ogden believes that Van Nistelrooy’s credentials are not suitable for the job in the short or medium term, and that he will likely move on to a decent job.

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