Manchester City target centre-back in January

Mike McGrath,Pa
Thursday 17 December 2009 11:28 GMT
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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.

The City boss substituted Robinho just before the hour mark and the Brazil international headed straight down the tunnel rather than joining his team-mates on the bench.

"He wasn't injured," Hughes said.

"There is no hard-and-fast rule that he has to sit on the bench.

"He started reasonably well down the left-hand side. He was involved and linked with our front guys but as the game wore on he found it more difficult to have a positive impact so we made a change."

Spurs' victory gets them back to winning ways in their bid to challenge the Barclays Premier League top four - but boss Harry Redknapp believes City will also be challengers this season despite drawing too many games.

"They are a good side and I think they will be up there pushing," Redknapp said.

"They have only had two defeats and they are a dangerous side."

Backed by the billions from City's owners, Hughes can go into the transfer window next month, but Redknapp warned: "It's about getting the right players. Sometimes you have star players who don't perform. You saw the game, you see people out there and you think they missed Craig Bellamy."

Of Robinho's performance, Redknapp said: "We kept him quiet. Charlie (Vedran Corluka) played him well and he wasn't a threat."

Aaron Lennon picked up the man-of-the-match award and the England winger hopes his form can keep Spurs in the hunt for a top-four finish.

"It's my most consistent season and I hope it continues," Lennon said.

"The team is playing well, this is the best squad we've had, and the team playing good football is helping me.

"You see teams like Aston Villa doing well, Man City are not far behind so we have to keep putting pressure on."

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