Hughes to put faith in experience

Hughes wants old hands Benjani and Vassell to get City back to winning ways

(GETTY IMAGES)

Mark Hughes has hinted he will turn to the experience of Benjani and Darius Vassell to give Manchester City's star strikers a helping hand against FC Twente tomorrow.

Hughes' side have not been on top form of late, losing to Middlesbrough and Bolton, a disappointing double that has left the Blues anchored in mid-table with plenty of ground to make up, not just on the top four but clubs trying to force their way into the other European spots.

It means City are looking for a win when Steve McClaren brings his side to Eastlands. And with Benjani and Vassell both declaring their fitness after a reserve-team outing against Liverpool last night, Hughes is tempted to rely on the pair to take some of the pressure off record signing Robinho.

"They will come into the equation," Hughes said. "It is important that they got some game-time under their belts, but they impressed and Benji scored into the bargain.

"We have got young strikers here and at times we have lacked a little bit of experience up front so it will be good to welcome them back."

Neither Benjani nor Vassell has managed a senior appearance this season. Benjani has struggled to shake off a thigh problem, while Vassell has been sidelined by a knee injury.

Hughes could do with all hands on deck just now as City look to make an impressive start to their Uefa Cup group campaign.

The Blues sat out the first round of matches a fortnight ago but they know victory tomorrow, and in their other home match against Paris St-Germain next month, will put them on course for a place in the last 32.

"We have enjoyed the games in Europe," said Hughes. "FC Twente are a decent team, who are very well organised and it's going to be a good test."

Meanwhile, Sunderland have confirmed that striker David Connolly has undergone a second bout of surgery as he fights his way back from injury. The 31-year-old Republic of Ireland international had an operation on a groin problem in Germany last week.

Connolly has also had hip surgery since he last played for the club against Wigan in the FA Cup third round in January. Manager Roy Keane said: "David has had another operation and hopefully it will lead to the end of his problems. He's been out for some time, but we are hopeful he will be able to resume his career now."

Connolly was one of six men to arrive at the Stadium of Light on the final day of the summer transfer window in 2006 after Keane took over. He has made 42 appearances, scoring 13 goals, and is now in the final year of his contract.

Meanwhile, defender Russell Anderson has been allowed to spend time with his family in Scotland as he recovers from his cruciate ligament injury.

The 30-year-old, who was sidelined for much of last season after undergoing reconstructive ankle surgery, damaged his knee while on a season-long loan spell at Championship Burnley.

Keane said: "Russell is back in Scotland at the moment. He's at the stage of his rehab where there's not much he can do physically."

The Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has urged his players to follow the example of frontmen Afonso Alves and Tuncay Sanli.

The Teessiders have collected five points from their last three games - a difficult trip to Blackburn and home games with Manchester City and West Ham – just the kind of response the manager was looking for after a humiliating 5-0 defeat by Chelsea at the Riverside Stadium.

He said: "If I take our two front players [Alves and Tuncay] as an example, they are two players who have fantastic belief in themselves and who believe any game is winnable.

"When you have players like that in your side who can score from nothing, that should give the team huge belief as well."