The pair have been on the sidelines of late, and after last Sunday’s goalless draw with Birmingham the Manager is particularly hoping that Adebayor’s availability may lead to City producing goals from unlikely situations.
He said, “Ade and Kolo have trained over the last two days, they have had a couple of sessions without a reaction, so the feeling is that they will be OK for the weekend. You always players that can produce moments of magic when the team is not dominating things as you would like and those kinds of players can change the game in your favour. Ade certainly has that capability, and having him as an option for Burnley will be a bonus for us.”
The Togolese striker started his City career with a bang, scoring four times before being suspended for three matches in late September. One of those games was the Manchester derby, before which Hughes’ opposite number had suggested that the Blues would miss the former Arsenal man as he was their most influential player.
“I think Sir Alex actually said he was our best player, and a few of the lads put their hands and queried that one!” Hughes laughed.
We know Ade has fantastic ability, and a real, physical presence up front. When you don’t have that type of player available, you will miss them at times but we are very hopeful we will have him at the weekend.
...Mark Hughes...
“Kolo should be back as well, so that gives us a little continuity from the teams we selected at the start of the season and I hope that helps us.”
Robinho, absent since late August with a stress fracture to an ankle, is back in training but the Manager poured cold water on hopes that he may be available for Saturday.
“Robi is out doing field-based work and hopefully can step his training up next week. He is not match fit as yet, he has internationals next week and the likelihood is that he will have to meet up with Brazil and be checked by their doctors but it would be wrong for him to play before.
“We have missed the options he can give us, so it’s pleasing we have been able to get him back into training and get him available for games. He’s not quite at that stage yet, but the more options I have the better.”
Wayne Bridge and Roque Santa Cruz also have injury concerns leading up to the visit of Owen Coyle’s side and of the pair Hughes added:
“Wayne has not trained since the weekend, but we are hoping he will train on Friday. He has a slight strain just above the knee, but we’re hopeful although we’ll have to wait on him.
“Roque has also not trained since the weekend, he has a really bad bang on the ankle. There is a lot of blood in and around the area which needs to come out, but again we are hopeful with him that he can train tomorrow.”
