UEFA Cup a priority for Hughes

MANCHESTER CITY manager Mark Hughes has made qualifying for the last 16 of the UEFA Cup a priority.

Hughes intends to name his strongest possible team for the second leg match against FC Copenhagen at Eastlands tonight.

The Welshman’s selection policy is in stark contrast to that of Aston Villa’s Martin O’Neill and Tottenham’s Harry Redknapp, who are resting key players though their teams have a chance of progressing in the competition against CSKA Moscow and Shakhtar Donetsk respectively.

Both claim they have more important domestic issues to pursue. Villa are chasing a Champions League place while Spurs face Manchester United in Sunday’s Carling Cup final.

City are intent on finishing the season in style but Hughes’ focus — with the scores locked at 2-2 — is firmly on banishing the Danes from the competition.

He said: “We want to get the job done.

“I would rather start the game strongly and hopefully put the game to bed quite early, then make changes.

“That is better than going the other way when you think you can keep people in reserve and hope you don’t need them.

“Invariably at some point you do need them so I would rather choose this option when it comes to selecting my team.”

Hughes admits he is a fan of the often-criticised UEFA Cup.

“When you actually go out of a competition such as the UEFA Cup then there is a gap in your programme and a feeling of loss.

“I do not want that to happen at City, especially as they have not made many excursions into Europe. From a development point of view we need to stay in the competition as long as we can.”

Midfielder Vincent Kompany is doubtful because of a toe injury aggravated in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool on Sunday. Hughes is hoping the problem will settle down as he is already without Nigel de Jong, who was not registered for this stage of the UEFA Cup.

Shaun Wright-Phillips is available again, however, as his domestic ban does not apply to the European tie. He has a slight ankle injury.

The winners are likely to meet another Danish side, Aalborg, who hold a surprising 3-0 advantage over Deportivo la Coruna from the first leg.

Meanwhile City have signed 22-year-old goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen on a two-and-a-half-year deal. Free agent Nielsen, from the Faroe Islands, had spells with Blackburn and Motherwell on loan.