Numptyed
Well-Known Member
appoliges if this has alredy been posted fom the MEN.
The serious business began again as soon as Hughes left City's academy base at Platt Lane - the Welshman happy to reveal Martin Petrov will be in his squad to face Hamburg, having come through a reserve team outing at Newcastle on Monday night.
"The plan was to give him 45 minutes," said Hughes.
"He came through that and looked impressive.
"You forget what quality he can produce, and he looked in good nick.
"He was blowing a bit, which is fairly obvious given how long he has been out. But he is an option for us."
Wayne Bridge, Benjani and Stephen Ireland will all travel to Germany - although the latter seems highly unlikely to figure, after sustaining a freak ankle injury in training last week.
At least having Petrov back offers Hughes another option.
The Bulgarian has been limited to just eight appearances this season after first sustaining a hamstring injury, then a cruciate knee ligament injury on international duty that required an autumn operation.
"When I came in as manager, the fact that Martin was available to me was a big plus," said Hughes.
"I had watched him from afar the year before and saw the quality he could produce. The opportunity to work with him was something I was looking forward to.
"Unfortunately we lost him very quickly, which was a big blow to us.
"When you see what he can produce you can see what we have lacked on occasion this season."
The serious business began again as soon as Hughes left City's academy base at Platt Lane - the Welshman happy to reveal Martin Petrov will be in his squad to face Hamburg, having come through a reserve team outing at Newcastle on Monday night.
"The plan was to give him 45 minutes," said Hughes.
"He came through that and looked impressive.
"You forget what quality he can produce, and he looked in good nick.
"He was blowing a bit, which is fairly obvious given how long he has been out. But he is an option for us."
Wayne Bridge, Benjani and Stephen Ireland will all travel to Germany - although the latter seems highly unlikely to figure, after sustaining a freak ankle injury in training last week.
At least having Petrov back offers Hughes another option.
The Bulgarian has been limited to just eight appearances this season after first sustaining a hamstring injury, then a cruciate knee ligament injury on international duty that required an autumn operation.
"When I came in as manager, the fact that Martin was available to me was a big plus," said Hughes.
"I had watched him from afar the year before and saw the quality he could produce. The opportunity to work with him was something I was looking forward to.
"Unfortunately we lost him very quickly, which was a big blow to us.
"When you see what he can produce you can see what we have lacked on occasion this season."