Defender top of Hughes' wanted list

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes has confirmed he will target a centre-back in the January transfer window after losing Joleon Lescott for up to two months before last night’s defeat to Tottenham.

Lescott required knee surgery to remove floating bone in the joint, while Ivory Coast international Kolo Toure will miss a part of the season due to the African Nations Cup, leaving Hughes short at the back.

The City boss said: “We’ve lost Joleon for six to eight weeks, that is a big loss to us and comes on the back of losing Kolo Toure for the African Nations.

“So it doesn’t leave much to think about in terms of what we probably need in January.”

Niko Kranjcar scored twice at White Hart Lane and Jermain Defoe added the other in a 3-0 defeat for City, with Hughes disappointed with his side’s performance.