Andy TURNER on the Sky Blues scene: Turkish fans have lost their right to travel to Elland Road; FOOTBALL.

COMMON SENSE must prevail when UEFA today decide whether to ban Galatasaray fans from travelling to Leeds next week for the return leg of the semi-final cup game.

Forget fair play and the argument that a partisan Elland Road crowd would give the visitors a distinct disadvantage, safety is of paramount importance and should take preference, every time, over football.

While not wishing to tar all Turkish fans with the same despicable brush, the actions of those involved in the brutal killings of two young men before last week's match surely takes away the collective right of the supporters to travel to this particular game.

The sinister "Welcome to Hell" banners at the airport show the intimidating and provocative nature of the more hard-core element, and allowing these people on British soil would simply be asking for trouble.

One only has to look at the mindless reaction from Everton fans to Leicester City's Turkish international Muzzy Izzet last weekend to measure the strength of feeling - and that is from people who have nothing to do with Leeds United.

WHILE sincerely hoping to be wrong, the way things are going the Sky Blues could quite feasibly finish the season without an away victory.

It is certainly not beyond the realms of possibility for City to get a win at Chelsea tonight but current form would suggest it isn't going to happen.

Follow that up with a trip to Upton Park without the two Moroccans, a difficult trip to the North East where they rarely do well and a final fixture at doomed Watford who will be playing for pride, and it is quite conceivable that supporters may have to wait until next season for that all elusive win.

But if anyone is looking for a bit of respite from the away day blues, the club's youngsters may provide the perfect tonic.

Having secured their place in their second successive FA Youth Cup Final, why not treat yourself to two evenings of scintillating football and give the boys some much-deserved support.

Having already won four times away from home en-route to the two-legged final, the under-18s are in fine form on their travels and face a trip to the winners of tonight's other semi-final between Middlesbrough and Arsenal, with the Gunners looking favourites to go through.

City will play the home tie first at Highfield Road on Thursday, May 4, before the second leg on Friday, May 12 when supporters could see them lift the cup and the spirits of the entire club in a thus far disappointing season.

The two fixtures will also provide the avid Sky Blue fan with a glimpse into the future, and going on the current crop of talent bursting its way through the ranks, it certainly looks bright.

There is potential in every department on the field as the seeds of talent germinate to provide the club with a host of exciting prospects.

Gordon Strachan is keeping a close eye on the boys and rather than waiting for a full harvest, he is already hand-picking individuals to train with the first team and step up their claim in the reserves.

Make no mistake, there will be several home-grown success stories in the seasons to come with eager boys all hungry to succeed, and as Strachan said this week: "If you can get your own kids coming through, they will jump through hoops for you."

JUST when we thought we had heard it all from temperamental players, up popped Lazio's Croatian striker Alen Boksic who was this week fined for losing his temper during a game after complaining his shirt was too tight.

Talking of shirts, it is that time of the season when clubs reveal their latest strips for next season and the Sky Blues are no different.

Having had a sneak preview of both home and away kits, I can assure fans that they are very striking and, on first showing, look like they will be hugely popular.

I have been sworn to secrecy as to the colours, style, design and cloth but I can reveal the players seem very taken with them, with striker Cedric Roussel giving the ultimate seal of approval when he modelled the home kit and declared: "It is beautiful!"

And rest assured there were no "too tight" tantrums or comments such as "I feel like a clown," which George Boateng said of last season's awful purple and yellow away strip.

Keep watching your Evening Telegraph for the big unveiling.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

"Looking at the amount of games he has got to go home for, I could travel to the moon and back and cover the same distance,"

GORDON STRACHAN aghast at the number of air miles Ysrael Zuniga will clock up during Peru's World Cup qualification campaign.

"What a selfish bunch of people at the Moroccan FA for putting on an international game on a Saturday,"

STRACHAN clearly fuming at the prospect of losing Chippo and Hadji for the West Ham match.

HEROES OF THE WEEK City's under-18s.

VILLAINS OF THE WEEK Mindless Everton fans who booed Muzzy Izzet.