ERIKSSON WELCOMES EURO BOOST

Eriksson - 'real bonus'.

Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson believes Manchester City's return to European combat could be the making of Thaksin Shinawatra's Blues revolution.

City will enter the UEFA Cup at the first qualifying round stage after confirmation they have pipped Fulham to the coveted Fair Play prize.

Although it is not the preferred method of reaching Europe, it has come 12 months ahead of schedule and could be a major benefit in both recruiting new players and retaining existing ones like Micah Richards, Michael Johnson and captain Richard Dunne, who have all been linked with moves elsewhere in recent days.

"It is a step in the right direction because the target for this club in the future is to play in the Champions League," Eriksson told the club's website.

"The UEFA Cup is a very good school to learn about European football.

"It is a confirmation that we are a good team and a real bonus for us.

"At one point we were almost sure to get into Europe, at other points we have been almost out of it so this is like the dream that came true."

City will learn their first opponents on June 30 but bizarrely may have to play the home leg in Yorkshire as Eastlands is unavailable.

The pitch is being relaid after a Bon Jovi concert and with Old Trafford ruled out for obvious reasons and most Lancashire grounds either relaying their surfaces or deemed unsuitable, Huddersfield's Galpharm Stadium, which usually plays host to rugby league in the summer, has been mentioned as a possible alternative.

Having already been placed in the Northern section of a regional draw, City will tackle opposition from Estonia, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Lithuania or Luxembourg or opposition closer to home in the form of two Northern Irish representatives Glentoran and Cliftonville, two from the Republic in Cork City and current league leaders St Patrick's Athletic, as well as Bangor from Wales.

There is also the possibility of a rematch with Wales' other representatives The New Saints who as Total Network Solutions, faced City when they last got into the UEFA Cup by the same route in 2003.

By the time the draw is made, City's managerial situation should become clearer, with Thaksin due to complete his controversial review, on which Eriksson's future job prospects hang.

The Swede has steadfastly refused to discuss the matter on his club's post-season Far East tour, which opens against the Thai League All Stars in Bangkok later today.

Eriksson has named a strong side, including Martin Petrov and Dietmar Hamann, while Valeri Bojinov continues his recovery from major knee surgery with a striking berth.