Mark Hughes has revealed Benjani Mwaruwari will be sidelined for 'a number of weeks' with a hamstring problem. Hughes already has several players unavailable and admits it is a blow to lose Benjani ahead of the busy Christmas period.

"We're a little bit light on numbers at the moment," Hughes told Man City's official website.

"A number of the guys are carrying injuries, so that will have an impact, and that's difficult when you've got games coming up thick and fast; you have to have a fit and able squad.

"At the moment we're just struggling a little bit in that respect.

"We've lost Benjani again at the weekend with a hamstring and he'll probably be out for a number of weeks. We're a bit threadbare."