Manchester City assistant boss Mark Bowen admits Robinho has made a huge impact at Eastlands off the pitch.

Bowen told the Manchester Evening News: "Of course it is a privilege to work with top-quality players and Robinho is just one of them.

"Last week for example he jumped off a plane back from Brazil at 10am Thursday morning and was on the training pitch an hour later with a big smile on his face.

"He lifts everyone. What isn't often commented on is that we have a player in Robinho who is up in the top echelons of the world game, whose work-rate and enthusiasm is phenomenal on a day-to-day basis, for a coach and a manager he is a joy to be around."