LIARS TO DROP COURT ACTION

Alfie Haaland has lost the battle to save his Premiership career after exhaustive attempts to beat the knee injury that has sidelined him for more than two years.

And in a savage double blow for Manchester City's Norwegian midfielder, Haaland will announce in the next 10 days that he is ditching plans to sue Roy Keane and Manchester United for over £2million in lost earnings over the X-rated horror tackle he claims ended his career.

Former Ireland captain Keane deliberately caught Haaland with a vicious late challenge at Old Trafford three seasons ago and was this season fined £150,000 and banned for six matches by an FA disciplinary panel after admitting in his autobiography his tackle on the former Leeds star was premeditated.

Haaland has been virtually sidelined since and although it is problems with the other knee that are forcing him to give up his Premiership dream, the City star had claimed Keane's tackle caused collateral damage by the impact and the way he twisted in mid-air and fell.

Lawyers acting on behalf of Haaland and City have been building a case against Keane and United for a year.

But I understand that City will not be pursuing their rivals or the Old Trafford skipper, having been advised the case would not stand up in court.

But sources at Maine Road confirmed to the SP last night that they are dropping the matter and an announcement is imminent.

The club have wanted to keep the decision under wraps in the build-up to today's Old Trafford derby clash with United in a bid to prevent escalating bad feeling among rival fans reaching the boardroom.

However, Haaland and City will shortly announce they are dropping the case - leaving the Norwegian to look at life beyond the Premiership.