Robinho not ready for Brazil, says Hughes

2009/11/07

MANCHESTER: Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has told Brazil that Robinho is not ready to play in next week's international friendly against England in Qatar.

Despite missing his club's last 10 matches with an ankle stress fracture, Robinho has been called up by Brazil coach Carlos Dunga for the match at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Nov 14.

Robinho has returned to training but Hughes insists the player, who has managed just three games for City so far this season, is not match fit and should not be involved against England.

"Robi is out doing field-based work and hopefully can step his training up next week," said Hughes.

"He is not match fit as yet, he has internationals next week and the likelihood is that he will have to meet up with Brazil and be checked by their doctors.

"We have missed the options he can give us, so it's pleasing we have been able to get him back into training and get him available for games.

"He's not quite at that stage yet, but the more options I have the better."

Robinho suffered the injury on international duty in early September.

He had been pencilled in to make his comeback in the Carling Cup tie against Scunthorpe last week before x-rays showed the fracture had not healed as quickly as hoped.



But while he remains sidelined, Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure are set to return to action when City entertain Burnley at Eastlands today.

City were held to a goalless draw by Birmingham in Adebayor's absence last Sunday so Hughes is relieved to have the Togo forward, who has recovered from an ankle injury, available again.

"Ade and Kolo have trained over the last two days, they have had a couple of sessions without a reaction, so the feeling is that they will be ok for the weekend," he said.

Despite drawing their last four games, City remain fourth in the table. They will go level on points with third-placed Arsenal, who kick off at Wolverhampton Wanderers later in the day, should they win.

But Hughes has doubts over Wayne Bridge and Roque Santa Cruz.

All 15 of Burnley's points since winning promotion to the Premier League have come at their Turf Moor home.

The Lancashire club, enjoying their first season in the top-flight for 33 years, have yet to secure a point on their travels.

They have lost heavily at Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham, but manager Owen Coyle believes it is only a matter before they secure their first away victory.

"We will pay City the utmost respect but we are capable of getting a positive result," Coyle said. -- AFP