Star quality not enough for Hughes against Stoke

Mark Hughes has told his Manchester City players to toughen up against Stoke if they are to get their Premier League campaign back on track.

Despite a huge increase in expectation levels at Eastlands following September's takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group, Hughes's team have been uninspiring in the Premier League.

After a winless run of three league matches, they find themselves tenth in the table – but just three points above Stoke, who are in 18th place ahead of their trip to face the Blues.

The poor form of strugglers Tottenham and Newcastle has shifted attention away from City's recent results,

But failure to pull off a convincing victory against Tony Pulis's newly-promoted team would surely be the cue for the muttering to start.

City manager Hughes knows that his team must be far more solid than they were in their 2-2 draw at Newcastle on Monday, where the hosts played the vast majority of the game with 10 men.

While he believes his players will be keen to prove a point after that draw on Tyneside, Hughes acknowledges that he will be facing a team with a far greater physical threat.

“As we look at the team tactics ahead of the game that's obviously one thing we will highlight,” said the former Manchester United and Wales striker, known for his ability to 'look after' himself during his playing days.

“We'll have to be more resolute after the Newcastle game and we will be because we were all disappointed on Monday.

“It was a real opportunity to get three points on the board and that was the aim before the game. So on Sunday we'll see a difference in that respect.

“Stoke have had a good start to the season and had a good result at the weekend themselves so they'll be on a high looking for back-to-back wins.

“We'll have to be mindful of that and make sure that we're ready.

“I sense that we'll want to put the result from Monday behind us and look ahead to a good home game that we would expect to win.”

The winger Martin Petrov is a long-term absentee but Hughes is hopeful his England defender Micah Richards will overcome an ankle injury to feature against Stoke.

Although they are without an away win since a 1-0 victory over Colcester, who are now in the third tier League One, in April, the Potters have been to Liverpool and come away with a point this season.

Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen should be available despite having several stitches just under his eye from a challenge from Alan Hutton in the 2-1 win over Tottenham last weekend.

And the former Sunderland and Aston Villa shot-stopper believes a similarly stubborn performance to the one they produced at Anfield could earn Stoke a positive result.

“They have the ability to destroy us and they will also look at Stoke and say it is a must-win game,” Sorensen said.

“But they have not won for three games in the league and we have the players to make it difficult for them.

“The longer it goes on without them scoring, the better it will be for us.

“We frustrated Liverpool and there is no reason why we can't do the same to Manchester City.

“It will be a very difficult task for us but I think we have already showed that we are certainly not going to be anyone's pushovers.”