And for some of the Blues stars, the trip to the KC Stadium will be the beginning of a 12-game audition for their futures at the club.
Hughes' trip to Abu Dhabi to meet owner Sheikh Mansour in midweek not only strengthened his long term position as manager, it also confirmed that there will be money available for new faces in the January transfer window.
The Sheikh liked what he heard from the City chief and is willing to bankroll up to five incoming purchases in the New Year - with the warning that the Blues will not be ripped off by those selling clubs who cannot see past dealing with the richest club in the world.
The prospect of new faces in all departments of the team ought to be a spur to those on the fringes particularly those who will get their chance on Sunday thanks to the absence of Richard Dunne and Gelson Fernandes through suspension. City will welcome back Belgian midfielder Vincent Kompany for the trip to Humberside and the absence of the captain will leave a spot for either Tal Ben Haim or Nedum Onuoha in heart of the defence with the manager keeping an open mind as to who might get the call.
"Vincent should be fit. We are positive about him shaking off a slight groin strain," reported the manager. "I expect I will see an increase in intensity in training from those players who see that there is a shirt or two up for grabs at the weekend.
Consistent
"I am influenced by what I see on a day-to-day basis. I do not just go on who has done what at the weekend. There has to be a consistent performance in training leading into games."
Hughes has not been fazed by the media spotlight being trained on the Blues' bumpy start to the Premier League season or by Elano's recent television outburst and, like his players, is now focused on the climb back up the table.
"We need a positive result to calm everyone down. There is a bit of hysteria around us at the moment that needs to go away," he declared.
"I think most seasons you get one of the promoted sides that have a great start and this year it is Hull. They have been having a fantastic time and you cannot help but be impressed by some of the results that they have achieved.
"They have done fantastically well, from the outside it looks a well-run club and the manager obviously has a lot of experience at Premier League level as an assistant so knows what is required.
"It is up to us to go there and ask some difficult questions of them. Neither of us has won a game for a while so we will both be anxious to get three points."
What do you think? Have your say.
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Not before time.....
I am not sure I like the military tone of this article. Mark Hughes is being presented as a sargent major figure almost threatening his players to perform in the 12 weeks until January.
We have had a few months of this style of reporting. In fact if you listen to Hughes' interviews he is much less militant than the papers would have us believe.
I am just worried for Sparky the way he is being portrayed. The media constantly say he is no nonsense and the time for talking is over. This can be frustrating for City fans who want to see this hardline approach turned into results. If the MEN keep trotting out the same old stuff about Hughes we are going to start thinking he is full of hot air
No more spin sparky..or you will be spinning out the door, The goat
Give Ned the nod....
Now the TALKING has stopped, were TALKING of winning at Hull,and TALKING of winning at Hull. If we don´t win at Hull it will just be all TALK..So don´t´TALK the TALK´...´WALK the WALK´...
HULL 1 CITY 3..Thats just ME talking.
mmm, deja-vous methinks.
However, Hull 1 City 7.
What's the bet that Ben Haim is selected over Nedum. I think one has to look beyond how players do in training - I understand Cruyff didn't do too much training, but did he play well. This talk is like Sven who continued to select Vassell despite his poor return in terms of goals. Hughes has got to realise that some players need to be judged on how they are performing not on how much energy they put in to training (I would imagine the 'headless chickens' run around a lot in training. it's about outcomes not output. Select the best 11 in their best positions after chatting to the senior professionals. We need not to lose.
COME ON LADS THIS IS A MASSIVE GAME,LETS GET BEHIND THE LADS AND GIVE THEM A MASSIVE CHEER.IF WE WIN IT WILL BE A MASSIVE RESULT.COME ON CIDDY.AND COME ON RICKY THIS IS MASSIVE.
Only five new players...bugger. Anybody want to buy an Elano mug?
He calls for action every week!
malcom g...
oh dear.
I'd like to see Nedum Onuoha given an extended run. He's solid, quick and good in the air. Now's the time...
SWP for captain please. Ned for centre back. You can pick the rest of the side Mark!
Oh Sparkley........come back to bed
You can't be serious Leslie , surely ?
You are just boring us now Malcolm G ... get a life numpty!
Every rich man have sons or stepsons. Some of them have expensive horses. Most expensive in the world. But they do not deliver so he say to pa: Bye me new ones.
Get back to work oily rog, Never mind the Elano mug, I'll be smashing DH's mug on Monday if Geovanni scores.
I am not sure the threat to players places does anything for confidence. Look at redknapp - he has given even outcasts like Boateng a squad number, told players like Dawson they are awesome, and has a surge in form.
Going back 20 years I had a PE teacher that would chop n change the school team to give everyone a run and make loads subs. As soon as the second half started you were looking to the bench ready to come off and invariably we lost. Then come along a new teacher who after one game told all the kids to pass to me as he thought i would score every time up front. And then most times I did.......
I see in The Mail that even SWP is in a hotel, often sleeping on the sofa when his kids are with him. So must be some of the others. Young foreign players, possibly not settled in the area, also unsettled by their futures?
Just a thought but it would not make me thrive in employment to be in that situation. Some people maybe, but not all.
malcolm do one u massive muppet
Another vote for Nedum here. Picking the best players usually works, but Hughes has got problems in the squad now. The story yesterday that Shauny was his only signing is a worry.
Yes the time for assurances and statements of intent from the manager and certain players must stop. Time to deliver on the pitch now. If certain players are playing for their future, then the same must surely apply to the manager, despite recent assurances. No owners of any club will keep a manager when results plunge the club into free fall. Hughes must be above mid table come January.
What about putting Kompany into defence and bring Hamann back for defensive mid for the Hull game?
Lets see Ned and Micah paired up, but am afraid it will be TBH and Micah. Neds that bit bigger and stronger and we will need that physical presence, perhaps with Didi and Vince in front, SWP and Stevie with Robinho paired up with Jo or Benji. And of course Hart, Zab and Garrido.
The nurse is doing the typing.