Man City 3, Stoke City 0: Hughes salutes his happy hero

ROBINHO’S first Premier League hat-trick for Manchester City yesterday against Stoke City underlined the importance of being “loved.”

The brilliant Brazilian inferred he did not feel wanted at Real Madrid which was reflected in patchy and indifferent performances.

But it is a far different story at Eastlands where Robinho, the £32million British record buy, is thriving on the attention and adulation he is receiving.

Robinho may have passed over the chance to play in the Champions League by rejecting Chelsea in favour of City, but it clearly looks the right decision as he is playing with a beaming smile on his face.

City manager Mark Hughes said: “Robbie is showing a real enjoyment in the football he is producing.

“The role he has in the team is a key to what we are trying to achieve and, maybe in the past, he has not had that feeling.

“He is responding in a really positive way. The crowd adore him and he has a close relationship with everybody here. That shows in the impact he has made in a short space of time.”

Hughes was delighted not only by Robinho’s goals - he has scored six in his first six Premier League games for City - but also his all-round contribution to the team.

He explained: “He has football intelligence and appreciation of where his team-mates are on the field of play, where the opposition are and how best effectively to hurt them in an attacking sense.

“He had all that is his play, but in fairness it was not just about Robbie because in attacking as a team we produced some great football.

“We won 3-0, but it could have been by much, much more as we created some great chances and on another day would have converted a lot more of them.”

Hughes added he was equally pleased with the clean sheet saying it was important to stand up to a physical Stoke side.

There were also major contributions from two of City’s bright young prospects.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart pulled off a number of important saves at key times on the day it was announced he has signed a new-five year contract, and substitute Daniel Sturridge provided assists for two of Robinho’s goals.

Ched Evans was given a chance as Brazilian Jo had tonsillitis while Elano returned in place of Dietmar Hamann on the day City played their 100th Premier League game at Eastlands.

Robinho would have opened his account early on but for a decent save from Thomas Sorensen.

But it was inevitable Robinho would make the breakthrough in the 14th minute as Shaun Wright-Phillips, Elano and Evans carved open the visiting defence.

Yet Stoke had three great chances to draw level before the break, Hart saying well from Ricardo Fuller and Ryan Shawcross while Fuller blazed over on another occasion when well placed to hit the target. Against a better class of opposition, City could have found themselves caned.

Sturridge made a terrific run and supplied an inch-perfect pass for Robinho to fire home his second goal within two minutes of the restart.

The completion of Robinho’s hat-trick was delayed by Sorensen who pulled off two super saves to deny him.

But the third goal finally came in the 72nd minute and it was simplicity personified as a neat passing move ended with Sturridge squaring a pass for the Brazilian to complete his perfect day.