Manchester City boss Mark Hughes is convinced they will see the best years of new signing Craig Bellamy.

"I have worked with Craig for many years," Hughes told City's website, "I understand his personality and I have great respect for his ability.

"Having spoken to him since he arrived here, we are getting a better player than the one I worked with before. He scored a lot of goals in one season for me at Blackburn, and scored some great goals for me with Wales as well.

"Now he is fit and well, at Blackburn he had some injury problems and at times we had to monitor the intensity of the training he did.

"The Craig Bellamy we have in front of us does not have any of those problems, he's stronger than ever and that is why he is such an outstanding player.

"The moment he gets the ball and goes past a player, people will understand why I wanted to bring him here."

The Manager also asserts that Craig is a much-changed character to the one he has worked with in the past, and he adds:

"He has matured as a person. He's a winner, he wants to be the best he can be. He is demanding of himself, demanding of the staff he works with and of his team mates. That is not a bad trait to have, I encourage it because I think that players of that ilk are good for your club."