Source: Team_Talk
Hughes expects Toure to be fit
Toure lasted just 18 minutes of a 2-1 victory over Celtic at Eastlands after reporting soreness in a hip problem that developed last week.
Hughes immediately replaced the former Arsenal man but is confident a week's treatment will be enough to get Toure back on the field when his new-look side face their first competitive test at Ewood Park next Saturday.
"He had treatment on a rash at the top of his hip this week and felt quite comfortable, which was why I picked him," said Hughes.
"But after about 10 minutes, he said it was bothering him, so we took him off straightaway.
"I don't anticipate it will be too much of a problem and he should be okay for next week."
Hughes admitted City missed Toure's presence, with Chris Killen taking advantage of the Ivory Coast star's exit to level Gareth Barry's opener.
Little wonder the Blues chief has made getting another new
centre-half his priority, although, after confirming there had been no progress made in his efforts to sign Everton's Joleon Lescott, Hughes indicated he might now look at alternative targets.
"We have to make a decision on any player we are pursuing," he said.
"If we feel a certain deal has run its course, we will look elsewhere.
"Whether we have reached that stage with Joleon only time will tell.
"Obviously we can do deals right to the end of the transfer window.
"However, we would prefer to do our business as quickly as possible, ideally by the end of this week."
Hughes admitted he cannot wait for the real action to start after three weeks of friendlies.
City's results have not been the most convincing but, in front of chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak, Hughes' side played well in patches against a Celtic team much-changed from the one that beat Dinamo Moscow in midweek.
He was also able to get Carlos Tevez onto the pitch for the first time since his controversial switch from Manchester United.
The reception that accompanied the South American's arrival proved he will be a major hit at City this term, although he might have to be content with a place on the bench at Blackburn despite pulling out of international duty to allow him a full week's training.
And, Hughes hinted match-winner Craig Bellamy is also set to withdraw from the Wales squad to face Montenegro on Wednesday after being selected by John Toshack.
"With his past history of knee injuries, we are trying to protect him," said Hughes.
"We are very cautious about letting him play three games in a week, which is why we left him out of the Rangers match on Wednesday.
"He still gets discomfort from the injury, so he will speak to the Wales manager and I would suggest he will not be available for Wednesday.
"For qualifiers it is not a problem but friendlies are different and I expect the situation will be dealt with accordingly."
Despite the defeat, Tony Mowbray insists Celtic are capable of causing Arsenal problems when the two sides go head-to-head for a place in the Champions League later this month.
The Hoops' reward for their superb victory over Dinamo Moscow on Wednesday is a two-legged duel with Arsene Wenger's men.
Arsenal will start odds-on favourites to make it into the group stages. However, Mowbray has seen enough from his charges already in pre-season to believe they can cause a shock.
"It is an exciting draw and a game we will go into believing we can win," he said.
"The top four in the Premier League are on a different level to everyone else, as I found out last year with West Brom, and it is going to be a big ask for us.
"But I know we have players who can give them problems. We are good enough, we just have to take our chances when they come along."
Mowbray also revealed he had no input into the decision to appeal against the one-match ban that threatened to rule Glenn Loovens out of next Saturday's Scottish Premier League opener with Aberdeen.
Loovens has only just been suspended for his tackle on Maurice Edu during the Old Firm encounter last May.
However, Celtic's latest move merely drags on even further a disciplinary process that Mowbray feels has taken far too long already.
"It is something that happened before I arrived and the powers that be at the club have decided to appeal," he said.
"If I am being honest, I have never even seen it, but I will deal with the aftermath, whether Glenn is eventually suspended or not.
"What amazes me is that we are sitting here a week before the season talking about something that took place in May."
