Manchester City's owners have handed Mark Hughes a £40 million warchest for the January market.

The Daily Mail says rather than sacking Hughes, the club's new owners will show impressive support for their manager.

The list of players Hughes hopes will save his job include two strikers - Blackburn centre forward Roque Santa Cruz and West Ham's Craig Bellamy.

City hope they will be joined by Chelsea left back Wayne Bridge and Villarreal's midfield general Marcos Senna.

The total outlay will not leave much change from £40million. Hughes appears to have been able to select the players himself, despite it previously being believed that the club's owners were insisting on high profile signings to boost their image.

"Right now, Mark needs players he knows, players who will bring pace and quality to the team," a top level transfer source reported last night. "He needs to start building his own team.

"He wants players who know the ropes and who can make an instant impact in the English league."