Robinho aims to set Premier League record with 30 goals

(GETTY IMAGES)

From Pied Piper to shoeshiner, Robinho has a goal celebration for every successful finish but having already set himself a personal target of 30 goals this season it seems he may have to dream up some more.

The confidence which was in evidence during the Brazilian's hat-trick against Stoke on Sunday was borne out by a personal target which would see him overtake the record 24-goal Fernando Torres set last season for the most goals in a debut Premier League season by a foreign player.

"My main objective is that the team does well, but my personal objective is that I achieve 30 goals," said Robinho (pictured below). "I'm happy, but not completely happy because I still have a lot to give and to learn. I'll be happy if we have achieved a good season at the end of this season."

For Mark Hughes, the difficult decision is when to rest his £32m man but for now the temptation to play him everywhere but in the Carling Cup (the defeat at Brighton is the only game he has missed) seems irresistible. "He will get stronger as a consequence of playing in the Premier League," Hughes said. "Just by virtue of playing week in, week out he will develop exponentially. There will come a point where maybe his form will dip. Given the way he approaches training I can see him maintaining his standards from start to finish."

Hughes will be without Robinho's compatriot Jo, who has tonsillitis, for tomorrow's visit to Middlesbrough. Ched Evans will probably miss out, too, following a knee injury, with Daniel Sturridge likely to deputise.