Man City v Chelsea preview

Hughes: New era

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Skysports.com prediction: Man City 1 Chelsea 1

SKY BET odds: Man City 7/2, Draw 5/2, Chelsea 4/5

One to Watch: Robinho

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Fate again appears to have played a part in the Premier League fixture list as Manchester City prepare to welcome Chelsea to Eastlands.

With schedule compilers already having sent Liverpool - who spent the summer chasing Gareth Barry - to Aston Villa on the final weekend of the transfer window, irony has struck again.

City are expected to hand British record signing Robinho his debut against Chelsea after pinching the £32.5million former Real Madrid star from under the noses of the men from Stamford Bridge on deadline day.

Manager Mark Hughes was able to land his new No.10 courtesy of the funds from proposed new City majority shareholders the Abu Dhabi United Group, who announced plans to take over the club on an eventful 1st September.

Big-hitters

And as the first match of the new City era looms on Saturday evening, it would appear equally poignant that it is Chelsea, formerly the Premier League's big-hitters in the nouveaux rich society, that come calling.

Robinho is expected to be the star attraction, but add into the mix that Shaun Wright-Phillips will be making his first outing against Chelsea following his return to City, and it would seem difficult to plan anymore possible angles for a fixture preview.

But City boss Hughes is well aware that he will need to build a team ethic and will be eager to see a number of 'original' members of his squad impress.

He will, however, be forced to do without Bulgarian Martin Petrov (knee) and Michael Johnson is a doubt after sustaining a groin problem.

Star defender Micah Richards, though, could return after recovering from a shoulder injury.

Essien absence

Chelsea and manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, without recently resigned assistant Steve Clarke, will be eager to spoil the party and they could welcome back Didier Drogba for his first game of the season.

The Ivory Coast forward has not played since the UEFA Champions League final defeat to Manchester United last season following a knee injury, but could hand the Blues a major boost with his return.

Joe Cole is expected to be available despite needing stitches to a head wound suffered during England's 4-1 win in Croatia on Wednesday night.

John Obi Mikel is hoping to return from a leg problem to fill in for Michael Essien, who suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament while on international duty.

Possible starting XIs

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Dunne, Richards, Ball, Ireland, Hamann, Kompany, Robinho, Wright-Phillips, Jo.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Belletti, Joe Cole, Lampard, Mikel, Deco, Drogba.