The city of Bristol is gripped by hope after it was suggested Michael Owen could become the second England international to join the the Robins this week. Npower Championship side Bristol City are keen to strengthen their forward line having dealt with their defensive issues with the capture of David James from Portsmouth. They originally had an approach for the loan of Danny Welbeck rebuffed by Manchester United but were shocked when they were told they could take Owen instead.
Daily Mail

Steve Lansdown has revealed how he formulated the audacious plan to make England goalkeeper David James a Bristol City player. City's chairman had just returned from a month-long holiday in South Africa and was catching up with the sports news in the newspapers when the idea came to him. He saw that James had become a free agent after parting company with relegated Portsmouth and thought 'why not?' The millionaire businessman, who now lives as a tax exile in Guernsey, said: "I was reading the papers on my return and noticed that Portsmouth had withdrawn their offer of a new contract to David James.
Bristol Evening Post

Steve Coppell has described his first ­pre-season with Bristol City as the most difficult of his managerial career. A catalogue of injuries, the departure of senior players and friendly defeats by Torquay, Exeter and Aldershot meant that much of the optimism surrounding Coppell's appointment in May had been eroded by the time David James arrived at Ashton Gate last week. Even Coppell seemed surprised at landing England goalkeeper James. But City's multi-millionaire chairman Steve Lansdown negotiated the deal and described it as another firm indication of his ambitions for the club. James has become the highest-paid player in City's history. But, while his arrival has created a real buzz ahead of Saturday's Championship opener at home to Millwall, there are too many other question marks over Coppell's squad for them to be considered among the promotion favourites.
Daily Express

Bristol City goalkeeper David James has revealed that when he first got a call from manager Steve Coppell he believed it was a joke. "I thought someone was trying to pull my leg initially," he said. "I'd just had a stag do and it was 10 o'clock in the morning and I was certainly worse for wear."
BBC Sport

Bristol City striker Nicky Maynard will miss at least the first month of the season with the knee problem that has plagued his summer. And last season's top scorer could be out for even longer if a specialist decides he requires an operation.
Teamtalk

Fabio Capello is poised to axe World Cup goalkeeper David James as he launches England's new era with fresh faces to take on Hungary next week. James was 40 last Sunday and, after turning his back on the Premier League to sign for Championship club Bristol City, his 52-cap international career appears to be over. He finished in South Africa as Capello's firstchoice keeper but that role now looks destined for Joe Hart — the subject of a loan bid by Sunderland on Wednesday, which Manchester City immediately rejected. Ben Foster is also expected to be handed another chance in the squad, due to be named on Saturday.
Daily Mail