Fulham-Manchester City Preview

Oct 23, 2009 - 4:50 PM MICK ROBERTS STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Mark Hughes has admitted Manchester City are yet to see the best of Carlos Tevez but backed the Argentinian to shine when Fulham travel to Eastlands on Sunday.

Tevez has scored only two Premier League goals since his controversial 22 million pounds move from City's bitter rivals Manchester United in the summer.

Manager Hughes has blamed that paltry return on Tevez's battles with injury and frequent long-haul trips to Argentina for World Cup qualifiers.

Hughes said: "Carlos is getting there. He missed the whole of pre-season, which was a blow to us and to him.

"He is still playing catch up, but you can see in every game that he is getting back to those energy levels for which he is recognised.

"We saw him at the weekend closing down centre halves and full backs and as the games go on he is going to be more capable of doing that for long periods.

"It is still a case of getting him up to speed but he has been a little fragmented as he has had trips with the international squad, which took him away when the work he could have done here would have been more beneficial.

"The international will now be put to one side and he can focus on getting up to speed more quickly."

Tevez has been criticised throughout his career for not scoring enough goals.

Hughes believes he can turn the 25-year-old into a prolific striker.

Hughes added: "You saw in his performance against West Ham he looked like a striker who can score goals as well \2013 you give him opportunities and he will put them away.

"He is young and young in terms of the Premier League as well. He has had a fantastic success in a short space of time and we want that to continue.

"For the next three or four years he will continue to develop as a player."

City are hopeful Kolo Toure and Craig Bellamy will be fit after missing last weekend's 1-1 draw at Wigan but Emmanuel Adebayor is struggling with an ankle problem.

Fulham will make a host of changes from Thursday's 1-1 Europa League draw at home to Roma.

Defender Brede Hangeland, who netted against the Italians, says Fulham's European adventures can help their domestic form.

Norway international Hangeland said: "We have come really close to beating a top class team like Roma and they needed a stoppage time goal to stop us.

"There were a few disappointed players in the dressing room but overall I think we should be happy with a point.

"Our league results have been a bit up and down but we have had some fantastic results in Europe.

"Roma are a great team with proud history so hopefully Thursday's result can give us the confidence we need to kick on in the Premier League."

Fulham are still without long-term absentees Simon Davies, Andy Johnson and Dickson Etuhu.