Mark Hughes insists that his Manchester City players all understand the importance of employing rotations.

Hughes has had to make tough decisions early in the current campaign, like placing Robinho on the bench for the trip to Portsmouth when the Sky Blues last played in the Premier League.

The Man City boss has stressed that there will be a time for every player to take his place in the stands, but he is confident that all his boys will be satisfied with his decisions.

Summer signing Roque Santa Cruz is also expected back within the next month giving Hughes more selection headaches upfront, not that he is complaining.

"There's an understanding that at times the next game or opposition might not be the right one for them to be in the side," he told the club's official website.

"I look at the opposition and the threats our players can make - against different teams you need different threats."

"That will always come into my thinking, and the players understand that. It's about making sure we have the right team for the right opposition."

Hughes also highlighted that those players not getting into his starting XI took part in more strenuous sessions to ensure that when they are called upon their fitness levels will be up to scratch.

"We ensure that if they don't get significant first-team action, they get more work in training than the ones who have played 90 minutes," he added.

"It's important they have the ability to make an impact when called upon. They understand how my staff work - it's not a punishment that they have to do extra work out of the team, it's because we want to give them the best chance of being successful when they do get called upon."

"They understand that, that work has to be done - they know it's a long season, that there will be times when they have to have an impact, so they have to be ready."