Manchester City boss Mark Hughes may drop his pursuit of Blackburn Rovers striker Roque Santa Cruz.

The Daily Express says Craig Bellamy's latest injury nightmare will force Hughes to think twice about a renewed bid for Roque Santa Cruz this summer.

Bellamy will miss the rest of the season after the recurrence of a knee injury, while Santa Cruz will be absent from the remaining games of Blackburn's relegation fight following knee surgery.

Both have been dogged by injuries in their careers and Hughes could not afford to have two strikers who are likely to be fit for only half City's games next season. Hughes had an £18million bid for Santa Cruz rejected in January and bought Bellamy for £10m from West Ham.