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HUGHES: BEN HAIM WILL BOUNCE BACK
Ben Haim - backed to bounce back.
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is banking on Tal Ben Haim to bounce back from his disappointing spell with Chelsea and become a key player at Eastlands.
The Israel international arrived in the summer after finding himself on the fringes of a side that finished second to Manchester United in the Champions League and the Barclays Premier League.
And Hughes believes he has taken a versatile and experienced player on board for the coming campaign.
Ben Haim could revert to central defence on Sunday against Aston Villa as Richard Dunne is suspended after lining up at left-back in the first leg UEFA Cup defeat by FC Midtjylland on Thursday.
Hughes said: "Ben Haim has been with us only a few weeks but he has fitted in superbly.
"He has a point to prove after what must have been a very frustrating year for him at Chelsea.
"But he has channelled all that into training and his performances so far. He is very versatile and is a good tackler.
"I felt we needed to be a bit more vocal at the back and Tal has already shown that he likes everyone around him to know what he thinks they should be doing.
"His international experience will be vital if we keep progressing in the UEFA Cup as well."
It is a difficult opening game for City against a side on the rise under manager Martin O'Neill.
Hughes said: "Martin is someone I have great respect for and he is shaping a good side there.
"But I know City have a good record at Villa in recent years and I am keen to keep that going by getting us off to the best possible start."
The former Blackburn boss does not expect overnight success, and said: "It is going to take time.
"We are still working on systems and personnel and what will enable us to sustain a level of performance right from the start to the end of a Premier League season.
"While we are looking to improve the squad if we can, we already have good players here.
"Unfortunately they did not perform in the way we needed against Midtjylland. But we will see an improvement at the weekend."
Hughes could be tempted to shake things up following that 1-0 defeat in midweek with fit-again striker Valeri Bojinov pushing for a place in the starting line-up.
