ELANO could be on his way out of City after being banished from the squad that lost 2-1 at West Brom.

The Brazilian midfielder was left kicking his heels at home after a bust-up with boss Mark Hughes.

City's chief was said to be angry with the 27-year-old's UEFA Cup performance in Santander on Thursday night.

And he finally ran out of patience with Sven Goran-Eriksson's £8m capture when he put in a lacklustre effort in training on Saturday.

Witnesses say words were exchanged and the squad named without last season's top scorer in it.

Club officials were also said to be suspicious when fellow Brazil star Jo trained but then phoned in sick and missed the coach to the Midlands. He later arrived under his own steam.

Injury

Robinho, described as a brother by Elano, missed the game through a nagging ankle injury that was aggravated in the game at Santander.

It is the second time that Elano has fallen foul of the manager this season having given a television interview complaining of his lack of game time that angered many at Eastlands. He had been left out of the side for a short spell - two games - at the beginning of November.

After that the two men met in Hughes' office and the manager seemed to have offered a significant olive branch when Elano was named on the bench at Hull and subsequently selected from the start for the European games against Paris and Real Racing Club and the Premier League clash with Everton.

But he failed to shine in any of them and unless he has a change of attitude he looks destined to leave in the January window with Spanish side Espanyol and Italians Lazio heading the queue for his services.

Elano, whose previous coach at Shakhtar Donetsk is believed to have phoned City to warn them the Brazilian was only happy when playing, has started 16 league and cup games this season and scored four times.

Israeli international Ben Haim also found himself out in the cold at the Hawthorns with England Under-21 international Nedum Onuoha given the role of understudy to Micah Richards and Richard Dunne.

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