Hughes challenges young duo

July 23, 2008

Ched Evans

MARK Hughes has challenged young duo Daniel Sturridge and Ched Evans to force their way into his first-team plans for the start of the Premier League season.

Jo's involvement at the Olympics and the new injury sustained by Benjani means places are up for grabs in City's front line.

And it is youngsters Evans and Sturridge - on the mark for the England under 19 side this week and with a Premier League goal already under his belt - who may find themselves in the spotlight in the near future.

Hughes said: "I would like to involve Daniel as soon as possible because he didn't have a lot of training with us in Germany because he was injured and then had to leave to play for England.

"I hope that he will be involved in the weekend game in Hamburg. It will be another opportunity for him to show what he can do.

"We will always try and encourage young players and bring them through I go back again to Ched Evans who has had an impressive pre-season so far. It is up to them to work hard, train hard, catch my eye and then take their opportunities when they come along."

Do you think Sturridge and Evans are ready for the first team? Have your say.

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Bluereed (23/07/2008 at 14:48)

This is fantastic news,well done Hughesy i think it could take a bit of time but were on a winner with these two.

It's made my day this has Good on ya Hughesy.

leemoe, glossop (23/07/2008 at 14:54)

Play the boys!!
Dont want to waste 15 mil on santa cruz...another one season wonder like benny Mccarthy....play the boys till jo and Benjani are back and bye a striker if we need one in January

manchester city (23/07/2008 at 14:54)

season line up

hart

corluka dunne ben haim zhirkov

bentley/zabalata johnson richards petrov

jo cruz

bench

sturridge evans banega boj ireland elano mee weiss

what i teamthat would be

M9Lad., ny. (23/07/2008 at 14:56)

We may have no choice, though I'd definately give one of them a start with Elano tucked in behind for encouragement.

manchester city (23/07/2008 at 14:56)

cant wait to see evans and sturride partnership at some point glad to see to young players following the footsteps of our other young talent next to mee and weiss plz

the noo Sam Harris, adelaide ,australia (23/07/2008 at 15:00)

Way to go, Cacaido too.I see Cardiff are hunting strikers, we should be able to get a couple of mill for Vass surely. I reckon it`s about his level and they have got the cash, please Sparky..............

bluesoapopera, Blackley Manchester (23/07/2008 at 15:06)

I dont want our youngsters being frozen out and I dont think Hughes will, under his guidance Ched and Sturridge should come on strong.
Etuhu could still come good and solve our right side problem. I dont think Hughes will panic buy, and we dont have to spend millions if we dont need to. If Santa does stay at Blackburn it will be interesting to see how many he has got at Xmas without Bentley providing the chances. If he is still banging them in then maybe go for him in January, but the 2nd season is the hard one and nearly 12 million more than Blackburn paid for him is excessive

proudtobeblue (23/07/2008 at 15:08)

Its a real quandry this one, Hughes knows he is under pressure to get instant success from both the boardroom and the fans.How does he achieve this...does he go out and buy experienced strikers that are proven scorers or does he risk heaping the weight of expectation onto the shoulders of one or both of his young duo.If we throw them in now and we start the season slowly and they don't score will it knock them back confidence wise? would it be better to have them on the bench as subs to gain experience when we are hopefully winning games? perhaps give them a run out in the league cup?(most would say this is our best chance of silverware again this season so can we afford the risk) both players cetainly have the potential,Sturridge has already played and scored in the Premier League,but from the little I have seen of these 2 its Evans that has impressed me most.If it was down to me,personally I would play him in the league cup games,I'd give Evans a start against EB in the Uefa Cup second leg to see how he does,and give him a 30 minute run out as a sub in the Premier League,perhaps away to start with where the pressure will be less intense as playing at home. I'd send Sturridge out on loan to a Championship team for the season to learn his trade (as Evans did last season) its a decision we as fans all have differing opnions on,and one we all hope Mark Hughes ultimatley gets correct for the good of our club and the 2 young players in question.

Blue Bob (23/07/2008 at 15:10)

thank god, a manager who is willing to give youth a chance. bring in the likes of Kieron Trippier, Ben Mee, Scott Kay, along with the likes of Ched Evans and Daniel Sturridge. i think the future looks bright for city.

Blue-Suede-Hughes., Thaksin's Pocket (23/07/2008 at 15:10)

Can I throw a name into the hat for right wing.......as this is quite clearly the most important role to fill, otherwise we might as well play no-one up front.......Cheap, short term stop gap........STEED MALBRANQUE.

I reckon 5m and he's our's.

You can't get much more PL experience and I wanted us to sign him when b4 he went to Spuds. I think he'd do a good job and well in budget.

Quick before Keano gets him

glad to be blue, halifax (23/07/2008 at 15:11)

i think jo only misses two league games[villa west ham] boj and benji should not be far off,we should not be splashing another 15m on another stricker for cover.money would be better spent in more important areas we all know where and pretty quick as well

A Manc and blue (23/07/2008 at 15:14)

It's made my day this has Good on ya Hughesy.
Bluereed
23/07/2008 at 14:48

Can we get out of the habit all of calling him hughesy. As i and many others have said that is a RAG name. His name at the mecca is yozzer

jackattack, glossop (23/07/2008 at 15:16)

manchester city how can you choose a line up like that when we havent bought half of these players who are mostly paper talk stick with what we have got plus evans and sturridge crazy money for bentley

The Wicker Man, Stuck in the Faroes (23/07/2008 at 15:16)

Have we signed Tom Cruise ?

Blue-Suede-Hughes., Thaksin's Pocket (23/07/2008 at 15:18)

Why is everyone licking RSC's be-hind? He did well last season but what makes him better than Roly is that last season, RSC had a strike partner to play off and got good service from Bentley. Roly was played on his own, with very little by way of service.

If Bianchi had been at Blackburn last season, he'd have scored 15-20 goals. Because Hughesy plays a 4-4-2 with wingers! We played a very defensive 4-5-1 and without pace up front which Roly (and RSC for that matter) does not have!

Leave RSC at Blackburn. Give Roly a chance with Boj/Studge/Evans but not Vass.

My team V Villa

GK HART / RB RICHARDS / LB ZHIRKOV / CB'S CORLUKA & DUNNINHO

LM PETROV / RM MALBRANQUE / CM ELANO AND JOHNSON

CF BIANCHI AND BOJINOV (if fit)

Prediction 0-1 (Bianchi 34')

ulf blomberg, varberg, sweden. (23/07/2008 at 15:31)

hughes:

"it will be another opportunity for him(sturridge) to show what he can do in the match against hamburg"

hasnt sturridge missed much of the preseason training?

Bluereed (23/07/2008 at 15:33)

A Manc and blue

Ok Bluesy then.why Yosser he's not looking for a job is he?

SouthStand (23/07/2008 at 15:33)

so no money to spend then?

ulf blomberg, varberg, sweden. (23/07/2008 at 15:45)

another subject,

i had the opportunity to see kinkladze on you tube yesterday. 9 minutes of pure magic! also saw banega and this guy looks the deal i think. great moves and as good as berkovic. young, skilled and star material make your move hughes!

42andnotseenowtreally, Heaton Misery (23/07/2008 at 15:45)

Good effort Bluesey.

Lets call it a draw on Strikers now.

The Wicker Man, Stuck in the Faroes.

Good user name my friend. I indeed on a few occasions likened the Faroes to Wickerman type territory.

Mr Barlow (23/07/2008 at 15:46)

Bluereed

Has the doctor given you some happy pills?

Impeccable (23/07/2008 at 15:47)

I think it's an ideal time for The Boj to step up to the plate, if he's fit. With a few weeks remaining I'd play him in all the pre-season games to enable him to gain valuable minutes on the pitch.

Then it's just a case of choosing who will partner him for the start of the season.

I've got a good feeling about Ched Evans. I reckon he'll be a top class striker in a couple of seasons.

Harry Skinters (23/07/2008 at 15:51)

Nice idea but we've had enough 'lets hope he comes good' type strikers since Elk left. RS Cruz is proven. 19 goals and he didn't even play the whole season. Second season he may get even better despite the 'one season wonder' nay sayers. Studge and Ched to challenge yes, but not to be relied upon when the transfer window will not open again until Jan. What happens if Jo gets injured in China? Get RSC signed and quick.

Goofy's Dietician (23/07/2008 at 15:51)

Blue-Suede-Hughes., Thaksin's Pocket - I know what you mean about Malbranque but Spurs tried him a few times wide right and it didnt really work. We need someone who can put a decent cross into the box and that's not Malbranque. I also seem to recall that he snubbed us once before cos' he wanted to stay in London.

Bluereed (23/07/2008 at 15:54)

Mr Barlow
23/07/2008 at 15:46

Yeah far too many.

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