HUGHES - CITY ACCEPT ROTATION

HUGHES - CITY ACCEPT ROTATION

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Mark Hughes has pointed out that all of his Manchester City squad understand the importance of rotation.

The Welshman has already had to make tough decisions this season, for instance when he left Robinho out of his starting line-up for the trip to Portsmouth last time out.

The City boss explains that there will come a time for every player to sit out, but he is confident there will be no sulking from his superstar players as a result.

Summer signing Roque Santa Cruz is also expected back within the next month giving Hughes more selection headaches upfront, not that he is complaining.

"There's an understanding that at times the next game or opposition might not be the right one for them to be in the side," he told the club's official website.

"I look at the opposition and the threats our players can make - against different teams you need different threats.

"That will always come into my thinking, and the players understand that. It's about making sure we have the right team for the right opposition."

Hughes also highlighted that those players not getting into his starting XI took part in more strenuous sessions to ensure that when they are called upon their fitness levels will be up to scratch.

"We ensure that if they don't get significant first-team action, they get more work in training than the ones who have played 90 minutes," he added.

"It's important they have the ability to make an impact when called upon. They understand how my staff work - it's not a punishment that they have to do extra work out of the team, it's because we want to give them the best chance of being successful when they do get called upon.

"They understand that, that work has to be done - they know it's a long season, that there will be times when they have to have an impact, so they have to be ready."