Joleon Lescott News

The former England defender feels Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal will finish in the top four.

Ahead of Manchester City's Premier League fixture at home to Hull City on Saturday, 31-year-old Joleon Lescott says he will cope with the pressure of fighting to win over Manuel Pellegrini and retain his place in the starting line-up.

City manager Roberto Mancini sprung a surprise by picking Joleon Lescott, the former Everton defender, who has been kept out of the side recently by teenage summer recruit Matija Nastasic.

Laurent Koscielny spared Arsenal from a first loss of the Premier League season at Manchester City on Sunday, clinching a 1-1 draw against the defending champions.

England will attempt to reach the last four of a major tournament for the first time in 16 years on Sunday as they face Italy in a heavyweight Euro 2012 quarter-final collision.

France came from behind to force a 1-1 draw with England on Monday as a cagey Euro 2012 opener between the Group D rivals ended in a stalemate.

England may appear to be in turmoil having only hired a coach a month ago and losing three key players to injury in the last 10 days but Johnny Heitinga believes all is not doom and gloom.

England look set to base their Euro 2012 strategy on defensive strength as they prepare to face Norway in what will be new manager Roy Hodgson's first game in charge since taking over from Fabio Capello.

England defender Joleon Lescott said on Thursday that there were no divisions in the Euro 2012 squad following the decision to include John Terry ahead of Rio Ferdinand.

Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott has rounded on those who have labelled the club "bottlers" and blamed high-profile teammates Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez for hampering their title bid.