Steve Clarke "I don't know, because from the conversation we had the other day, it was really negative.
"But we have given him time to think about it. So I'd like to think he could play for West Bromwich Albion again.
"Obviously Nicolas lost a close friend and an agent over the weekend - he died suddenly.
"Nicolas went to Richard on Thursday and indicated that he wasn't in a good place.
"I went in and had a very brief chat with him, and he wasn't in a good place.
"So the club have decided just to give him a bit of time to go away and think about it and get himself in a better place for the future.
"Really, that is as much as there is to tell on the situation - it wasn't dramatic, there was no big bust-up, he didn't storm out of the training ground. It is just a boy who is really quite upset.
"We've given him time to go away and think about it and I don't think we could do any more in the circumstances as they were.
"Once he gets his head clear and we can sit down and have a proper chat, yeah, sure. But at the moment (granting Anelka compassionate leave) is the best course of action for both Nicolas and the club."
Manchester City Fixtures ...
Sunday August 25
16:00 Cardiff City v Manchester City
Saturday August 31
12:45 Manchester City v Hull City
Saturday September 14
15:00 Stoke City v Manchester City
Sunday September 22
16:00 Manchester City v Man Utd
Saturday September 28
15:00 Aston Villa v Manchester City
Next away game ...
CARDIFF CITY STADIUM
How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
To avoid driving through the centre of Cardiff, leave the M4 at junction 33 and take the A4232 towards Cardiff/Barry. Keep on the A4232 towards Cardiff and then leave the dual carriageway at the B4267 exit. At the end of the slip road, turn left at the roundabout, signposted 'Cardiff International Athletics Stadium'. The stadium is situated a short distance down this road on the right. Please note that parking in the nearby retail park is limited to 90 minutes as is being enforced. Also be sure also to park your car properly, as I have been informed that traffic wardens are out in force on matchdays.
A visiting Scunthorpe fans adds; 'If you pass the ground on your right and then turn right at the next lights (about 250m) and proceed up this road for about 300m, you will see HSS Hire (plant hire) on your right. Turn right in front of this and it leads you into a fenced off area adjacent to Turnstile 7 (the away entrance). You can go straight into the ground without leaving this area. It was also well marshalled on our visit. It is not big enough for teams with big support, but I think it would take around 200 cars. Cost was £5.' Pre-booked coaches get preference for this area, so if your team are bringing a number, then the space for cars may be limited.'
How to get there by coach:
To avoid driving through the centre of Cardiff, leave the M4 at junction 33 and take the A4232 towards Cardiff/Barry/Airport. Keep on the A4232 towards Cardiff and then leave the dual carriageway at the 3rd exit B4267. The 1st exit is the Welsh Museum of Life....2nd exit is Culverhouse Cross. Just before the 3rd turn off you will see the stadium (slightly to your left). Taking the outside lane (of 2) on the slip road, as you approach the lights, you need to be in lane 3 (of 4). You will be bearing round to the right (keeping the pavement on your left) you are taking the 1st turning off this roundabout into Hadfield Road. Travelling approximately 800 meters down Hadfield Road you will then turn left into Bessemer Road. Travelling down Bessemer Road to the traffic lights at its "T" junction with Sloper Rd you turn left. Approximately 400 meters down Sloper road as you pass the bus depot on your right on your left you will see "HSS Plant Hire". Turn Left Here into the protected compound. Thanks to Malcolm a Cardiff Cabbie for these directions.
By Train
The nearest train station is Ninian Park Halt, which is only a five minute walk from the stadium. This station is on a local line (city line-direction Radyr) which is served by trains from Cardiff Central, which run every thirty minutes on Saturday afternoons. On leaving Ninian Park Halt station proceed along Leckwith Road and you will see the new stadium over on your left. Alternatively if you are away fan turn left into Sloper Rd and then turn right into the protected compound at HSS Plant Hire, which leads to the away turnstiles.
Alternatively as Barry Hodges informs me; 'Grangetown station is around a 15-20 minute walk away from the New Stadium and is served by more frequent trains from Cardiff Central, that continue onto Penarth or Barry Island. On leaving Grangetown station turn left, cross the main road and then turn right into Sloper road'. If you are an away fan then turn left into the protected compound at HSS Plant Hire, which leads to the away turnstiles. If for any other turnstile than gate 7, walk on 50 metres, turning left, into the car park towards gate 6 or around the stadium, to the right for lower gate numbers, ticket office or club shop.
If you a bit more time on your hands, then you can walk to the stadium from Cardiff Central, which takes around 25 minutes. As you come out of the entrance to the station, bear left and at the bottom of the station approach road, turn left. Continue straight on into Ninian Park Road, for around a mile passing the Millennium Stadium on your right. At the end of Ninian Park Road turn left and then left into Leckwith Road. You will then shortly be able to see the stadium over on your left (the away turnstiles are on the left hand side of the stadium, as you view it from here). Alternatively a taxi to the stadium from Cardiff Central costs around £7.
Man City Squad Numbers ...
1 Hart, Charles Joseph John
2 Richards, Micah
4 Kompany, Vincent
5 Zabaleta Girod, Pablo Javier
6 Lescott, Joleon Patrick
7 Milner, James Philip
8 Nasri, Samir
9 Negredo Sanchez, Alvaro
10 Dzeko, Edin
11 Sinclair, Scott Andrew
13 Kolarov, Aleksandar
14 Garcia Fernandez, Francisco Javier
15 Navas, Jesus
16 Aguero Del Castillo, Sergio
17 Rodwell, Jack
18 Barry, Gareth
21 Jimenez Silva, David Josue
22 Clichy, Gael
25 Luiz Roza, Fernando
29 Wright, Richard Ian
30 Pantilimon, Costel Fane
33 Nastasic, Matija
35 Jovetic, Stevan
36 Suarez, Denis
38 Boyata, Anga Dedryck
42 Toure, Gnegneri Yaya
43 Tchuimeni-Nimely, Alex
44 Rekik, Kerim
47 Bunn, Harry
48 Lawlor, Ian John
50 Ibrahim, Abdisalam
51 Drury, Adam John
52 Huws, Emyr Wyn
53 Henshall, Alex Charles
54 Kennedy, Kieran
55 Rusnak, Albert
56 Gunn, Angus Fraser James
57 Wabara, Reece
58 Facey, Shay
59 Hutton, Louis Jack
60 Guidetti, John Alberto
62 Razak, Abdul
63 Johansen, Eirik Holmen
64 Mesquita Lopes, Marcos Paulo
65 Ntcham, Jules Olivier
66 Fofana, Seko Mohamed
67 Bossaerts, Mathias
68 Leigh, Greg
69 Swan, George
70 Evans, George
71 Denayer, Jason
73 Glendon, George
74 Plummer, Ellis Kane
75 Bytyqi, Sinan
76 Mayifuila, Jordy Hiwula
77 Cole, Devante
78 Pozo La Rosa, Jose Angel