The Blues have been paired with Danish Superliga side FC Midtjylland in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup.
City will play the first leg at the City of Manchester Stadium on Thursday, August 14 - three days before their Premier League campaign kicks off at Aston Villa.
The second leg will take at the SAS Arena, in Herning, on August 28.
Hughes' men will be favourites to progress to the UEFA Cup first round proper, even though the Danes thrashed Bangor City 10-1 on aggregate to set up the tie.
But the City boss is keen to ensure that he has a stronger squad to call on than the one which sealed a 4-0 aggregate win over Faroe Islands part-timers EB/Streymur.
An experienced back-up goalkeeper, a defensive midfielder, a right winger and a striker are the priorities for the Welshman.
Hughes, who captured Tal Ben Haim from Chelsea for £5m on Wednesday, is in the market for Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz and Norway-based Ghanaian defensive midfielder Anthony Annan.
He has also been linked with a move for Charles Itandje, although the out-of-favour Liverpool goalkeeper would prefer a move to Paris Saint Germain.
The manager said: "We are still looking at the options we have in the squad. Things are starting to move in the right direction and come August 17, we'll be ready." Tweet
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Off topic, but the starting line up today vs stockport is Schmeichel; Logan, Onuoha, Ben Haim, Garrido; Weiss, Hamann, Ireland, Castillo; Bianchi, Caicedo.
hopefully rolando will have a fantastic game and show hughes what he can do, ending the need for another striker, right midfield should be our priority and if chelski get robinho we whould make a move for SWP.
Still doesn't mention that new faces are coming in. They better had be, or we're in trouble next season.
We need more strength in depth if we are to compete. I think Hughes is aware of that.
Pure conjecture by the MEN.Old news re-hashed again and again.I am beginning to believe we are not going to sign anyone in this transfer window, so why do the MEN think we are without any concrete evidence?
Based on the areas he's thinking of strengthening it looks like we're stuck with Ball then?
He might get the best out of Garrido you never know. Is the City v Stockport game on TV or being streamed?
Does anyone know?????
I feel so sorry for Hughes because my belief is that there is not the money he was advised there would be to sign players.
The best he will achieve,therefore,this season will be mid table.
It would be so much better if the club would be honest and let us know that there was not the money available to Hughes but that they would give Hughes at least 3 seasons to build a team making the best use of our young talent.This would give us a team of more loyal and dedicated players to our club with the hunger and drive to do well for City and the fans -- rather than more money grabbing imports.
We would have the basis with the youth development of a strong team for the future that would hopefully win things together with the bonus that the nucleus should be playing together for many years giving more opportunity for consistency.
Here's to a better future and more honesty from our Board .. if we have one !!
Feel like this next UEFA Cup match may be asking a bit much of Vassell.Playing the last match against the part timers,ie Postmen ,Bank clerks,van drivers and assorted beer bellies,he found himself playing against players who were his equal,not better,so he stood out.The next match promises to be much tougher for our popular forward!!
So it's 0-0 7 imns into the second at edgeley park.
Uuuuuuummmmmmm,wonder what the starting eleven was?
Wow! Do we really need a backup 'keeper, a defensive midfielder and a right winger? Why has nobody said this before?
Should make a move for the Fulham player, Jimmy Bullard. He has just had a contract extension turned down. I think he would make a massive difference and give us loads more options in midfield. Otherwise, Annan.
Same old same old,1-0 to county.
Getting beat 1-0 now. Where are you forwards????????
City go 1-0 down after 65mins, then on comes Valeri Boj and its 1-1. He's back! Valeri scored after being on for about 3mins.
Hughes is furious at what he has seen so far.
Thaksin's reasons for letting Sven go was that he couldn't and wouldn't tolerate the lax attitude and the apparent couldn't care less attitude on the pitch.
I'm sure Hughes will turn things around but from what he has seen so far I think that he realises there is a culture change that needs to happen and quick.
Unfortunately the money isn't yet in place otherwise the core five players who dominate the rest of them would have been sold.
Roma are reported to be lining up a move for Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun, skysports.com understands.
2-2 at full-time. Valeri Bojinov with aheader and Ched Evans with a last minute penalty to grab a draw.
Probably be updated on here by Monday morning.
Feel like this next UEFA Cup match may be asking a bit much of Vassell.Playing the last match against the part timers,ie Postmen ,Bank clerks,van drivers and assorted beer bellies,he found himself playing against players who were his equal,not better,so he stood out.The next match promises to be much tougher for our popular forward!!
Nick,As Usual The No Nonsense,Straight Talkin Pundit,Who can Talk The Talk AND Walk The Walk,Caterha, caterham
2/08/2008 at 13:48
PRAT......
The Boj Is Back!!!
My concerm anout the current situation is the lack of depth(and quality) in the squad. It is all very well to slate off Vassell and Ball but we need those type of experienced players as part of the squad. Evans, Weiss, Sturridge keep getting mentions about giving them their heads in the team but they just do not have the experinece to take us where we want to go and no one knows if they will make it anyway. I remember the clammer for the likes off Flood, Croft, Shuker Bradley WP, Miller etc to be given their chance but none were really up to the challenge and quality required. I see names like Bullard being mentioned but is that the world class signings that we need! I am sure MH can see the shortcomings in the depth of the current squad but does he have the charisma to attract really top class players to Eastlands? Does he have the money? the next few weeks will tell us!!
Giles, any idea which 5 core players you are talking about? You couldn't make it up except, you often do!
We only fielded a reserve team today.
Giles, Voice of City Fans,
5 core players causing unrest eh ??? go on then pray tell ! who the hell are they
Santa Cruz was injured today for Blackburn!
Oh well, if only Sven had of got him when I told him too (for under £3m) we wouldn't be having this conversation and wouldn't be looking for a new striker - its a funny old game!