SWP looks to extend City contract

Shaun Wright-Phillips wants to at Manchester City for the rest of his career and repays the fans support with a long-overdue trophy.

The England international has struggled to establish himself as a first-team regular in Roberto Mancini’s side this season. But with City third in the Premier League and preparing to take on rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, Wright-Phillips is determined to stay put and help the club celebrate their first bit of silverware in 35 years.

“I want to fulfil a lifelong dream and help win a trophy for our fans,”he said, “I wouldn’t just want to beat United and then lose in the final – we need to get to the final and win it.”

The diminutive winger joined City as a 16-year-old and has remained with them ever since, with the exception of three difficult seasons at Chelsea. Refusing to accept a departure is inevitable, the 29-year-old Eastlands favourite has vowed to put everything into his fight to remain at the club.

“It feels like I am part of the furniture here,” he told the club’s official website, “I would love to retire a City player and I have my fingers crossed it is something that can still happen. When I did leave in 2005, I broke down crying on the way to sign for Chelsea, but back then, we needed the money my sale brought in. The fans didn’t even turn their back on me then. They always give me a brilliant reception and I can’t explain how good that feels.”

SWP looked set to be moved on in the January transfer window, but an injury to Adam Johnson prevented any move. Since then he has come on regularly as a substitute and always from a warm reception from the City faithful. Having seen Wright-Phillips endure European campaigns, promotions and relegations with the Blues the fans see SWP as ‘one of their own’.

However, he has never played for them in the Champions League and he has never won any meaningful silverware either. Both are distinct possibilities over the next few months, with a tricky trip to Liverpool due to be negotiated on Monday before that momentous FA Cup semi-final with Manchester United at Wembley.

But Wright-Phillips is not looking on that single game as a possible triumph in itself. He realises a first cup final appearance since 1981 would mean nothing if City failed to overcome either Stoke or Bolton in the final.

“If I could play even a small part of making that happen, I would be a happy man.”