Mark Hughes is convinced one trophy is all it will take for Manchester City to reach their destiny as one of England's superclubs.

After spending in excess of £120million this summer, City have already proved their ability by winning four matches on the trot and running Manchester United so close at Old Trafford on Sunday has underlined their top four credentials.

Hughes cannot choose between that or an end to a trophy drought that stretches back to 1976.

But, ahead of Wednesday's Carling Cup encounter with Fulham at Eastlands, the City chief knows either would allow his team to take the final step towards gatecrashing the game's elite.

"If you win trophies and have experience of winning trophies as a group of players and as a club, it helps you," he said.

"It shows you the qualities needed to overcome opposition and win things. We haven't got that yet.

"But if we can get into positions to win trophies it would allow us to go that final step."