Hughes expects Robinho to end City’s blues

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes believes Robinho’s impressive return to action in his side’s 1-1 against Hull will help lift the gloom around Eastlands.

Robinho had been out since the end of August with an ankle problem and has been the subject of speculation linking him with a move to Barcelona.

City also became embroiled in a row with Brazil after the player was called up for his country’s 1-0 friendly win over England in Doha two weeks ago.

But he finally returned to action against the Tigers on Saturday and looked in top form in 75 minutes before being substituted.

Even though Hughes is frustrated with his team’s run of seven successive league draws which has seen them drop to sixth place, he was happy to see Robinho back on the field and feels the former Real Madrid winger can make a big difference.

He said: “He lasted a bit longer than that and faded a little bit towards the end and that’s why we took him off.

“I was delighted with his performance and he looked really sharp and when you get the ball to him in areas in and around the box then it looks like something will happen and it looks like he can create something for you.

“We’re pleased that he’s back. He still needs games and game time on the field of play and that’s what he’ll get and we’re pleased that he’s back.”

City have lost just once this season, but the long run of draws has prevented them putting themselves in a strong position in the race for the top four.

But Hughes feels it is only a matter of time before City begin to string together victories.

He added: “We’re frustrated because we’re getting into winning positions and not seeing the game out.

“It’s a situation where we’re drawing games and we’re trying to convert those draws to wins and once we do that we get back on a winning run again.

“At the moment we’re on a sequence of drawing games that’s frustrating everyone.”

Hughes left England midfielder Gareth Barry out of his squad for the Hull game to rest the player’s groin problem.

And the City manager is hoping that a cautious approach will mean that Barry is back playing sooner rather than later.

Hughes said: “We’re trying to protect Gareth and he’s had a lot of football, a lot of international football and he’s carrying a little bit of discomfort in his groin area.

“What we don’t want to happen is for him to get to the point where he’s just getting through games, and not having the impact that we know he can in games.”

City looked well in control against Hull and took the lead through Shaun Wright-Phillips, only for Jimmy Bullard to snatch a late equaliser from the penalty spot.

Bullard then decided to celebrate the goal by recreating the infamous on-pitch team-talk that his manager Phil Brown conducted at half-time of the 5-1 defeat at Eastlands last season.

He gestured towards Hull’s players as if telling them off and Brown, whose side have picked up eight points from their last four games, said: “It was fantastic.

I had no idea about it and I didn’t see it. I was trying to organise a five-man midfield to get a point so I had no idea what he was doing.

MANCHESTER, England, Sunday, AFP