Vincent Kompany was delighted to be back in defence for Manchester City's UEFA Cup victory at Schalke last night.

"The change was no surprise to me," Kompany said.

"Since my move to City, I only played in midfield - and my performances were very, very good.

"But I knew the coach signed me because I could help defence in case of injuries. That is no problem for me - I know my role. I always knew I could help the team in defence sooner or later."

Hughes was full of praise for the 22-year-old Belgian international, who joined City from Hamburg earlier this season.

"Vincent is a very accomplished football player," he said.

"The change possibly surprised people in my selection. In Germany people have seen him play in that position many, many times.

"It was important to have his calmness on the ball, and I think he really excelled - and we enjoyed his performance."

Kompany certainly feels the move to England has paid off.

"It was the right move for me," he said.

"To go into the Premier League was certainly a step up. I told everyone how great it is to play in the Bundesliga and that the stadiums were only the best - but in the Premiership the level is even higher.

"The world's best players all compete for a place on a team. It is great for me to be there and to be important for my team."