Mark Hughes has revealed that he has specifically set out to put focus on his side’s presence at set-plays this season. The City boss feels that they lacked the ability to cope defensively as well as threaten in attacking terms last term and it’s suggested that he has brought in players and set new tactics to improve in this area. Adebayor’s headed winner at Portsmouth on Sunday providing the latest evidence of this.

“We wanted to address our threat at set-pieces because last year it wasn’t as good as it needed to be…We wanted to have a better threat at set-plays, and that is what we have now….We have great delivery from Gareth on the right-hand side, whipping in balls. If it’s the perfect ball, irrespective of what the opposition do it’s very difficult to stop the ball from getting to the key areas of the box….”

Interesting stuff – particularly when you consider that City now have Joleon Lescott in their back four; we know all to well just how potent he can be in opposition penalty area. Gareth Barry must also be a consideration for us, given that Hughes picks him out as a key contributor from dead-ball situations. In addition, Santa Cruz will be someone worth a glance once he is fit. Indeed, news on his availability surfaced only yesterday with Hughes indicating that the Paraguyuan is very close to a competitive debut…

“He is desperate to play but we are holding him back a bit…When Roque is ready he will be involved. We want to get him in a City shirt and out there playing because he is going to be a big asset to us.”

The return of Santa Cruz will of course introduce a new threat of rotation in the City forward line. Adeabayor owners may well see their man have his minutes on the pitch reduced in the coming weeks then. That’s something to watch for.

Rotation threats in the City lineup are also due to increase across the side with the news that Vincent Kompany is now back in contention following a toe injury. With Toure and Lescott installed in central defence, it seems likely that Hughes will need to find a new position for Kompany, although the versatile Belgian will offer alternatives across the defence and in a central midfield holding role.