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Manchester City Boss Mark Hughes Has Contingency Plan For African Cup Of Nations

Citizens set to lose Toure and Adebayor in January…

Nov 27, 2009 5:34:34 PM

EPL: Mark Hughes, Manchester City v Burnley (Getty Images)

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EPL: Mark Hughes, Manchester City v Burnley (Getty Images)

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Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has revealed that he has plans in place to cover the likely absence of two key players during January's African Cup of Nations.

Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor look set to participate in the three-week tournament in Angola, but could also be called into training camps a fortnight before the competition begins.

That could mean both Toure and Adebayor missing up to ten games for the Citizens, but Hughes insists that there will be some give and take with their respective FAs as to their availability.

"There is a suggestion that there may be a preparation period that has to be factored in, which we are obviously aware of," he told reporters at his Friday press conference.

"There will be a number of communications between the associations involved in terms of the release date for British-based players.

"A lot of other leagues have a break over the festive period that allows them to meet up earlier.

"I think there will be an understanding that we have a crucial period of the season coming up and that will be taken into account."

Meanwhile, Robinho is expected to make a return to the matchday squad when Hughes and his team welcome Hull City to Eastlands on Saturday.

The manager claims that City have missed the Brazilian during his absence due to a stress fracture in his leg.

"Robinho is an outstanding player," said Hughes.

"If anyone is out for a long period sometimes you can forget how accomplished they are.

"Having worked with him this week and seen him back in the group, we can see the qualities that he can bring to the side.

"We are delighted that he is back and fit and well because he will have a real influence for us this year I am sure.

"Robinho is a guy that generates comment and since he has been out with his injury the news has clearly not been about what he is doing on the pitch," Hughes added.

"Instead it is about what might happen and comments about his future, more often than not from people without any valid insight.

"What we have to accept with Robinho is that he is a big name in the world of football and people feel the need to write stories about him on a regular basis."

Zack Wilson, Goal.com UK

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