Eriksson's Man City future in further doubt

(CNN) -- Speculation is growing about the future of Manchester City manager Sven Goran Eriksson after the English club canceled his regular pre-match news conference ahead of Sunday's Premier League trip to Liverpool.

The Swede is expected to be sacked by Thaksin Shinawatra following an end-of-season tour to the club owner's native Thailand, which has fueled reports of a planned boycott of the trip by City's players.

City called off the former England manager's press conference due to "exceptional circumstances," the British Press Association reported on Friday.

Thaksin met with Eriksson about his future in the past week, with the Thai billionaire having reportedly already agreed to pay off the remainder of his three-year contract and bring in a high-profile replacement.

The former Thai prime minister is disappointed with the team's performance in his first season as owner, with City having fallen away to eighth place after looking likely to challenge the top four clubs earlier in the campaign.

Eriksson has been linked with a return to one of his previous clubs, Benfica, whom Portuguese media claim want him to replace Jose Antonio Camacho.

"The door is not closed on Benfica," Eriksson's agent Athole Still told O Jogo. "The question of money is important. He may have been contacted indirectly. If any club wish to talk with Eriksson, they must call me."

Eriksson has refused to comment on the speculation, choosing to focus on the club's final two league matches this season.

"We are all professionals and we must concentrate on the two games we have left to play," he told the Manchester Evening News.

"It is strange to have two away games to finish and they are both difficult matches, but I am sure we are going to produce good performances in both those matches.

"If we will win or not at Liverpool, you never know because they are a top side, but all those fans that travel to see us play at Anfield and all those watching back home will see a good performance.

"The players are determined. There are certainly no signs in training that they have packed their bags for their summer holiday. They did excellent sessions earlier this week and playing Liverpool is always special.

"There will be days of speculation, I am sure, but we must be focused on winning matches."

Eriksson will be boosted by the return from a hamstring injury of captain Richard Dunne, who reportedly led the squad in offering to sign a letter of protest to Thaksin indicating their unwillingness to travel to Thailand and Hong Kong.

But England defender Micah Richards is not yet ready to return from the knee injury which has kept him sidelined since the end of February.

"He's getting better all the time and he might be fit next week, but if there's a small risk for him to get injured again, we shouldn't risk that," Eriksson told the club's Web site. "Absolutely not. "We can't risk him because that would be awful."

Spanish left-back Javi Garrido has returned to training along with Bulgarian striker Valeri Bojinov, who has been out injured since August.

"Bojinov is training and is fit. But to be fit is one thing; to be match fit and play Liverpool away is something different," Eriksson said. "So he might be on the bench, might be in the squad, but to start? No." E-mail to a friend

All About Sven-Goran Eriksson • Manchester City FC • European Football • United Kingdom • Sports