Roque Santa Cruz is exactly the sort of player that Manchester City need to silence everyone doubting the club, according to manager, Mark Hughes. Santa Cruz is one of the players that made the move to City during the summer but has not been able to get into the side because of injury.

The point that Hughes talks about him is because he is not a player that appears to carry an ego. He is more of a good old English type of centre forward than any thing else and Hughes believes this will help the performance of the club and the reputation of the club.

He said: “I like what he gives us. He is a big guy, his physical presence is important for us, because we are not the biggest team in the world up front.”

“Technically, he is good enough. I will always remember the first training session he had at Blackburn and the reaction the other players showed when they saw what he had produced. He has the ability that you sit up and take notice of. I blew all my budget on him when I was at Blackburn and that shows you what I thought of him. He did wonderfully there and if he can replicate even half of that then he will be good value.”

“Roque has been at the biggest club in Germany so he is used to performing under pressure at a club with a big profile. He has the mentality I need.”

It is unknown at this stage whether or not Santa Cruz will be back in Premier League action any time soon. He is still in the recovery stages of injury and although if he was thrown in at the deep end for City’s next Premier League game, he wouldn’t complain but it would not be wise.

As for the point about reputation, City are fast associating themselves with a lot of players who seem to be very egotistical. If Santa Cruz comes in then he can hit the ground running and prove to all of the neutrals around the country that City have good work ethical players and are not just a bunch of over paid premadonas.

It will be good to see him back on a football pitch and although the likes of Wrexham are good and honest clubs they have nothing in Premier League standards. Santa Cruz’s recovery canno be gauged until he is playing against the best that football has to offer.