MARK Hughes believes that City's Carling Cup exit in Brighton could prove a blessing in disguise.

The Blues boss feels that taking one competition off the table can only help his squad pull through what promises to be an exhausting campaign.

Hughes' men could play more than 60 games this season if they get to the later stages of the UEFA Cup and FA Cup.

"It's not great going out of competitions," said Hughes. "It's not something I like doing. It's hard to take at the time.

"But if we're realistic, and if we try to take a positive out of a negative, then maybe it will help us long-term.

"Maybe it shows that the squad as it stands isn't as strong as it needs to be to compete on all fronts.

"Obviously the fact we've gone out of one competition focuses the mind in regard to those that we're still involved in.

"Perhaps the one positive to come out of it is that we may be in better shape, given the squad that we have, to compete in the competitions that we have left. Trying to go in all competitions was possibly too much for us."

Hughes is expecting a vastly-improved display at Wigan on Sunday, with Robinho, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Micah Richards all set to return after missing out at the Withdean Stadium.

Wright-Phillips and Richards had minor knocks, while Robinho returned to Brazil to sort out a few personal affairs. Bulgarian winger Martin Petrov is still out with a knee injury.

Hughes is hoping to recapture some of the magic of last Sunday's 6-0 hammering of Portsmouth - but will be happy with another victory.

"We can't afford to dwell on competitions that we're out of. We need to look forward to the games that we have before us, starting at Wigan," said the Blues manager.

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