Shaun Wright-Phillips insists Manchester City can challenge for the Premiership title this season.

The England winger told City's website: "I came back to try and help the club achieve things, to win something. It is what I did in my first spell. Now more players are coming in, it's become more likely that I thought. Everybody here is excited.

"He is forming a team now where the players are used to winning. That mentality rubs off. If you let in a goal, you don't sink into your shell, you come out even harder and put people on the back foot, home or away.

"The thing we lacked last year to be in the top six was our away form, and we started to correct that towards the end. Once we get the away form right, there is nothing stopping us really."

Mark Hughes is not demanding a title challenge, but SWP added: "If we put our heads down, you never know. We have fewer games not being in Europe. We can concentrate on domestic stuff and are likely to stay a lot fitter.

"I believe we have what it takes to win the title at some point. But that takes consistency, and being able to win when you're not playing well. Last year, particularly away, if we weren't playing well we couldn't grind a result out. We're learning you have to grit in sometimes."