Hughes Talks Up Returning Robinho

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes will unleash Robinho on Hull on Saturday believing the Brazilian can remind everyone what a class act he is.

The £32.5million striker has not made a Premier League appearance for the Blues since mid-August, the vast majority of that absence created by a stress fracture of an ankle that he suffered on World Cup duty for Brazil in Argentina.

That three-month void has been filled by endless speculation about the 26-year-old's future, most of which has suggested he will depart Eastlands for Barcelona, if not during the January transfer window, then at the end of the season.

Hughes has tended to bristle at such talk, insisting the man he invested a British record sum in to sign from Real Madrid at the start of last season will remain where he is.

But now Robinho is ready to make his comeback, Hughes wants attention to be focused on the forward's on-field contribution and to remind people about the ability that brought him to City's attention in the first place.

"Robinho is an outstanding player," said Hughes.

"If anyone is out for a long period sometimes you can forget how accomplished they are.

"Having worked with him this week and seen him back in the group, we can see the qualities that he can bring to the side.

"We are delighted that he is back and fit and well because he will have a real influence for us this year I am sure."

More than once over the last few weeks, Hughes has insisted Robinho is going nowhere, despite on-going interest from the European Cup winners.

It is a stance that is not going to change at any point soon, although as one of the game's most notable attractions, Hughes accepts Robinho will always be the subject of intense debate.

"Robinho is a guy that generates comment and since he has been out with his injury the news has clearly not been about what he is doing on the pitch," said the City chief.

"Instead it is about what might happen and comments about his future, more often than not from people without any valid insight.

"What we have to accept with Robinho is that he is a big name in the world of football and people feel the need to write stories about him on a regular basis."

Hughes' most immediate priority is turning a run of six successive Premier League draws into a sequence of victories, starting when his side entertain Hull.

In that sense, Robinho's contribution could be invaluable.

"He could have turned some of those draws into victories," agreed Hughes.

"If you get him into key areas he is one of the best in the world with his ability at close quarters.

"It is something we have lacked when teams have tried to come and frustrate us."

City found the solution in the corresponding fixture last season when they scored five times.

That encounter was more memorable for Phil Brown's controversial half-time team-talk when the visitors were already four goals adrift.

It has gone into the annals of history as a moment of folly and the point at which Hull's outstanding start to Premier League life turned sour.

However, as a fellow manager, Hughes does not believe Brown deserves to be pilloried.

"Phil obviously felt it was something he needed to do," said Hughes.

"If it had got the desired reaction it would have been viewed as a masterstroke.

"But it didn't turn around the game and as a consequence it has been thrown back at him more times than he would have wanted.

"Half-time is one of those periods when a manager can have an influence and I do not believe you should be criticised for taking a different approach."

s: football365