Manchester City keeper Shay Given is asking for patience as City desperately try to get their season back on track. A dismal three days saw them suffer successive 3-1 defeats to Hamburg in the UEFA Cup and then Fulham in the Premier League. And Given feels it will take time for Hughes to shape his squad the way he wants.

"In years to come I think this will be a great club to be involved with," said the Republic of Ireland star.

"But Rome was not built in a day.

"People automatically feel we are a top-six team because we are one of the richest clubs in the world.

"They are comparing us to Chelsea when Roman Abramovich took over but they were already a top four side who just added more quality to make them champions.

"It is going to take us longer. Everybody is impatient and want us to be there yesterday but we have got to put the building blocks in place."