Most of the hacks seem to have overdosed on mince pies, and as such are unable to waddle to the computer. But we've still found a couple of articles for you.

John Dillon at the Daily Express puts his focus on Fabio Capello's decision to grant David Beckham a place at next year's World Cup finals.

What happened to the idea that there are no guarantees for anyone involved in the England squad?

Beckham returned to Italy yesterday to rejoin AC Milan and was greeted by the familiar sight of paparazzi at the airport and a most unfamiliar headline in Gazzetta dello Sport, with England manager Capello pledging that he is on his way to South Africa as long as he “plays well and stays fit”.

There has not, for example, been any such declaration of purpose about Aaron Lennon of Tottenham, even though he proved against West Ham yesterday that he is by far the form player among those hopeful of filling the right-side berth.

Milan’s medical set-up has kept a whole platoon of ageing players chugging on through their mid-thirties. And Beckham is heading back to the San Siro for what will be a far more competitive campaign than it was in his spell there last season. This means we can be hopeful that his fitness levels will be brought up to scratch.

But even Capello cannot be certain yet that the project will work. There is a good argument for taking Beckham to South Africa. But, frankly, it does not have to be settled for months yet.

Meanwhile, over at the Guardian, Daniel Taylor looks at the impending exit of Robinho, and how Roberto Mancini will have no hestitation in offloading the club's marquee signing.

The former Internazionale head coach may have been stretching the boundaries when he said that City could catch and overhaul Chelsea at the top of the league but he has clearly picked a good time to take control of this team, even if it also means inheriting the £32.5m problem that his predecessor, Mark Hughes, never got to the bottom of.

Robinho was not in the team tonight, relegated to the bench and sat huddled against the cold before coming on as a substitute for the last five minutes. Within a minute the most expensive player in English football had supplied the pass for Carlos Tevez to score the third goal but, even so, there was the overwhelming sense that Mancini was being benevolent when he said he had left out the Brazilian simply to spare him from the threat of fatigue as City played their second game in three days. It had felt more like a demonstration of strength from the new manager.

Mancini had talked of Robinho "making the history of this club" when he held his introductory press conference just before Christmas but the Brazilian was disappointing, to say the least, when the new era got underway with a 2-0 defeat of Stoke City last weekend. Robinho's desire is to leave and Craig Bellamy, his replacement for this match, flourished even if he did miss two great chances.