Sven gives China brawl striker a fighting chance

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The 21-year-old China striker was at the centre of the infamous mass brawl that forced referee Dermot Gallagher to abandon a 'friendly' between QPR and China's Olympic team last February.

One of Gao's team-mates, Zheng Tao, was taken to hospital with a broken jaw following the punch-up in west London.

After the bust-up, Gao admitted his guilt, saying: 'I apologise to the fans. I was provoked, but I failed to control myself and did not respect the referee.'

Gao will be joined by Shanghai Shenhua team-mates Lang De Lei (19) and Mao Jianqing (22) after City manager Sven Goran Eriksson spent last week in a 'hands across the East' exercise that resulted in three Thai players arriving on loan.

City owner Thaksin Shinawatra will open football academies in his native Thailand as well as China as part of a marketing exercise aimed at increasing the club's profile.

Meanwhile, just in case, City's England defender Micah Richards and his team-mates may like to review their Bruce Lee DVDs.