Manchester City boss Mark Hughes expects Carlos Tevez to raise his game in the coming weeks.

The Blues striker, who was injured when he arrived in the summer, has been subject to draining international breaks during Diego Maradona's controversial qualification for South Africa.

Hughes told City's website: "Carlos missed all of pre-season, which was a blow to him and a blow to us. He's still playing catch-up, but every game he plays he's getting back towards those energy levels.

"It's been a bit fragmented for him because of the trips with Argentina that have taken him away when the week he could have had here would have been more beneficial.

"Now the internationals have been put to one side, he can focus on getting up to speed very quickly. At the weekend he was closing down full-backs, centre-halves and the goalkeeper.

"He's done that ever since he came to the Premier League, that's why he's endeared himself to so many people. Sometimes he gets nowhere but at Wigan the keeper shanked it due to his presence."