Hughes backs Man City striker Vassel

“Vass is such a genuine guy who will always put in a real stint for the team,” Hughes said in the Manchester Evening News.

“We are asking him to perform a roll that is not the one he would prefer and he understands that is where we are at the moment. He keeps on tracking back and trying to ask questions going forward and did that again at Fulham.

“He was flicking things on and helping make things happen down the right flank. He is doing a job for the team and maybe some people, though not the players or myself, are not appreciating what he is doing for the team as a whole.”