Hughes eyes Robinho impact

City boss hoping record signing lifts troops

By James Pearson   Last updated: 13th September 2008

Robinho brazil

Robinho: Cantona comparison

Mark my words, training will be of the highest quality simply because of the players I have brought in like Robinho.

Mark Hughes
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Mark Hughes is hoping Robinho can have a similar impact at Manchester City as Eric Cantona had at Manchester United.

The former France international turned The Red Devils from title contenders to a side which dominated the Premier League following his switch across the Pennines from Leeds United.

Cantona became an icon at Old Trafford while his technical ability and eye for goal made United the team to beat in the country.

Hughes is hoping his current squad look to match Robinho's undoubted talent and quality and he believes that can only be good for the future of the club, despite the Brazilian's British record transfer fee.

Talisman

"Can he be a talisman? Well, I hope so," Hughes told the Daily Express.

"When you get a player as talented as Robinho coming into a group of players, the level of the others rises automatically. That's always happened.

"It makes my job easier, because every player has an ego and wants to judge themselves against the best players in the squad and around the country.

"That happens on a daily basis. Mark my words, training will be of the highest quality simply because of the players I have brought in like Robinho.

"The obvious example in my own playing career was Eric Cantona. He came to the club and we were struck straight away by his technical ability, but also the fact that he made the game simple.

"He made the right decisions more often than not which is the mark of a top player."