Boss hails all-round display

City’s all-round display in the win over Stoke has drawn warm praise from Mark Hughes, who insists the win was not just the work of hat-trick hero Robinho.

The Brazilian struck once in the first half and twice after the break, could have had had a couple more and set up a great chance for Ireland just before the end, but the Manager wanted to underline that he had seen an excellent display from the whole City team.

Mark told us, “Robinho will get the headlines, and rightly so because the quality of the goals and the finishing were all top class. He was excellent on the day, but it was not all about Robinho. I was pleased with our defensive performance today, Stoke will ask questions of you physically and mentally you have to be up for the challenge. We answered those questions today, stuck at it and once we won the ball back we broke with devastating effect.

“Robinho showed his technical ability but also his willingness to work hard for the team. He made himself available in tight positions when other players with less ability would not be as willing to do that. He gives his teammates the confidence to give him the ball in those areas, and invariably he will do something creative with it. Opposition teams find it hard to combat him.

“He’s in love with the game, he plays like Brazilians do and he loves the interaction with fans. Everybody here has taken to him to their hearts, he gets people of their seats and there are very few players in world football able to do that.”

Fellow Brazilian Jo was forced out of the game with tonsillitis, and the Manager admits there are a couple of other injury worries with the next game against Middlesbrough on Wednesday looming large.

“Jo was under the weather today, and not in any fit state to participate even as an option on the bench. He may be better in a couple of days, but we will have to wait and see.

“Ched had a bang above his knee, it very quickly filled with blood and stopped him from being able to continue, so it’s a worry. It’s touch and go whether he will be available for Wednesday. Richard Dunne had to come off because he was struggling with his breathing, he has had a bang on his chest for a few weeks that’s still hindering him.”