Brian Marwood is gaining influence at Manchester City.

The Daily Mail says City may have lost only twice in the league this season, but a series of draws and Wednesday's capitulation has left the Premier League's richest club looking at a series of fixtures as important as manager Mark Hughes has faced.

Sunderland are first up at on Saturday, then City entertain Stoke City on Boxing Day before travelling to Wolves on December 28.

Hughes must find a way to take at least five points - ideally it would be seven - from these games if he is not to go into an FA Cup clash at Middlesbrough and a two-legged Carling Cup semi-final against Manchester United under unbearable pressure.

Hughes has enjoyed support from the club's owners in Abu Dhabi. However, it is understood that there is some nervousness within Hughes's circle now, especially about the thoughts of City's football administrator Marwood.

The former Arsenal player is an increasingly important figure at Eastlands and is the eyes and ears of the owners in Manchester.