Man City newboy Santa Cruz out until end of August

Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz will be out of action until the end of August, the club’s manager Mark Hughes confirmed on Wednesday.

When Hughes spent 17 million pounds to sign Santa Cruz from Blackburn during the close-season, he was already aware the Paraguay striker’s City debut would be put on hold due to knee surgery.

But Hughes has plenty of attacking options after also signing Emmanuel Adebayor and Carlos Tevez and he plans to let Santa Cruz recover at his own pace.

“We knew Roque would have a period of rehabilitation when we signed him, but we have good options up front,” Hughes told City’s website.

“If we can, we want to give him the time he really needs, rather than getting him back early and having him at 70 percent.

“Rather than bring him back too soon. I would rather give him the time that he needs. We are hoping by the end of the month he will be available.”