Mark Hughes has confirmed that striker Robinho won’t be rushed back into Manchester City’s first team before he is fit enough to contribute.

The Brazilian has been out with a stress fracture for the majority of this season, and Hughes wants his star to recover adequately before easing him back into the starting line-up.

"He loves playing football of course, but it's part of being a professional footballer sometimes that you have to work at getting back to the level required," Hughes told Man City's official website.

"You have to have a different mindset to get the work done - you're coming in when the other players are on a day off, and it can be hard getting back over a longer period than a few days.

"There is a possibility that Robi will be on the bench for [next Wednesday's League Cup tie against] Scunthorpe, but it might be a bit soon and I don't like to throw players in before they've had games in training or in the reserves.

"We had to throw Vinnie Kompany in because of the circumstances but ideally he'd have had more time, and with the options we've got we can afford to give Robi some more time."

Meanwhile, Craig Bellamy, who has been deputising well for Robinho, could be inserted into the first XI against Fulham on Sunday after missing the Sky Blues' draw at Wigan with a groin problem.

"He's been working with the physios and he's done OK, he'll be back in training with the group on Friday with a view to him being available for selection at the weekend," Hughes explained.

Hughes is also confident that Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor will return to active duty soon. The defender is training with the squad after recovering from a heel problem, while Adebayor is healing well from his ligament strain.