Discarded Hughes has a point to prove

MANCHESTER City will attempt to get their stuttering Premier League title challenge back on track at Fulham on Sunday (4pm).

But standing in their way will be the man deemed surplus to requirements at Eastlands.

Mark Hughes was sacked as City boss despite a respectable record.

Club owner Sheikh Mansour and his advisors were not seeing enough return for their huge investment, an accusation already being thrown at Hughes’ replacement Roberto Mancini.

Following goalless draws in their last two home matches against neighbours United and Birmingham, City will be under pressure to deliver against a Fulham side guaranteed to be highly motivated by Hughes.

Although reluctant to take a swipe at his former employers, Fulham boss Hughes will be desperate to prove a point by denting City’s title ambitions.

City expect to have goalkeeper Joe Hart in their ranks.

The Blues’ first-choice stopper was forced out of England’s friendly against France at Wembley with a back spasm, but the 23-year-old is on the mend and likely to keep Shay Given on the substitutes’ bench.