City can join the elite

MARK Hughes takes his Manchester City side to Portsmouth tomorrow convinced he has a squad which can challenge the Premier League's big boys.

This week’s £22million capture of Joleon Lescott from Everton was City's eighth summer signing, the vast majority of whom are used to battling for major honours.

So, although chairman Khaldoon al–Mubarak claimed in the spring that a top-six finish would be the goal this term, far better is expected from a club who have spent £120million since last season ended, and way over £200million in the last three transfer windows.

Not that City boss Hughes is bothered by that. Having got the men he wanted, he knows his team must now deliver.

"There is a demand and an expectation about what we can achieve in the future," he said.

"We are comfortable with that. I know I have a group of players who can compete at the top end of the table, which was my remit when I took over."

Hughes sat down with Khaldoon and owner Sheikh Mansour last December to plot a path for the future.

He delivered a list of names he felt would make City stronger, knowing not all would be available.

In the case of high–profile targets Kaka and John Terry, that proved to be the case.

Others proved more approachable, with Carlos Tevez, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor – who has scored twice in as many Premier League games this season – the most notable names on the list of acceptors.

"We have probably done in two windows what could have taken a much longer period of time," said Hughes.

"But our feeling was we wanted it quickly and if we could acquire the players we needed then the club would be stronger going into this season.

"The window we have just had has been fantastic. The players we have been able to bring into the club are great, not only in terms of ability but in mentality as well.”

Standing by the old maxim that "you never say never", Hughes is refusing to rule out the possibility of any more business being done before the September 1 transfer deadline.

There may be some heading for the door, though, including Richard Dunne, who has been attracting the attention of Aston Villa.

City, with a 2-0 win at Blackburn and 1-0 defeat of Wolves under their belts in the Premier League, are favourites to overcome a Pompey team without a point in three matches.

But Portsmouth fans can look forward to brighter days following news that Sulaiman Al Fahim’s take-over of the club has been completed.

Al Fahim – appointed chairman at Fratton Park after passing the Premier League's fit and proper person test – claims he has now taken full control, meaning manager Paul Hart will be able to strengthen his squad.

Watford striker Tommy Smith (29) is set to head to Fratton Park in a £2million deal, while Lens' £4–million rated Ivory Coast striker Aruna Dindane is another likely target.