Rumours of Mancini not being a huge fan of Adebayor have been circulating all Summer, yet in public the club continue to back the Togolese. Mancini was supposed to have reassured Ade of his future last week, and went on to pick him against FC Timisoara. This ensures Ade won’t be playing for anyone else in Europe this side of Christmas. Robinho on the other hand was not cup-tied while he looks for a new club.

The feeling one gets is that Mancini would prefer Ibrahimovic or Dzeko as our target man. However in keeping with our transfer policy, a player will not be allowed to leave until the new man is signed.

With Ibrahimovic, the player and his wife would prefer a return to Milan and the Champions League. However Barca would presumably prefer to take the money from us rather than the huge financial hit of a loan to relative paupers AC.

Any deal for Ibra would involve his agent, Mino Raiola. Hardly an enticing prospect for City’s negotiating team after the drawn out Balotelli transfer. Raiola has recently stated that Ibra isn’t a player to be loaned, though anything he says must be treated with extreme caution.

Everything has gone quiet regarding a move for Dzeko. Juventus, his other main suitors, have signed Krasic instead. Jose Mourinho has also indicated an interest in the Bosnian striker. The problem remains Wolfsburg are about as keen to do a deal as Arsenal were for Fabregas.

Consequently, Adebayor is likely to stay unless a shock deal goes through for either Ibra or Dzeko in the last week of the transfer window. If it does, then Ade could find himself in a loan move to Italy or Spain. Those mysterious quotes from the other week might make a bit more sense then.

Adebayor as reported by Tuttosport:

“Juventus are a great club in which I would like to play.

“I am sorry to leave the Premier League, but in Europe there are other top leagues”

At the moment Adebayor has not shirked in terms of work-rate when on the pitch. He just looks in need of a goal to really get back on song.

As for Jo, it increasingly looks like he may find himself a place in the 25 man squad. This would crown the most remarkable of comebacks. Mancini and his coaches seem to have seen something in the Brazilian that has put him ahead of Santa Cruz.

When he signed two summers ago, there was a great expection which the then 21-year-old was unable to live up to. This time would see the complete opposite where most fans expect nothing from the perceived flop!

He does look stronger than first time round, and he’s more likely to be content on the fringes of the squad than our other strikers. Maybe there’s a role for him in the Carling Cup, Europa League and cameo substitute appearances as we look to save the legs of Tevez and co.

A couple of goals and a new cult hero could be born!

• Do you think Adebayor or Jo have a future at the club? And is there a realistic chance of signing Ibra or Dzeko this window?

MCFC twitter:

“Take it from us everyone, despite reports, MCFC has no plans to sell Emmanuel Adebayor; our new no.9 for this season – and that’s official”

Quite where Tuttosport got these quotes is a mystery and it’s no surprise to see them refuted. If Santa Cruz, Jo and Caceido all leave as expected then Adebayor and Tevez would be our only senior strikers.

Even with Balotelli there would hardly be cause for Adebayor to worry about his place. The teenager is often used down the flanks, similar to Bellamy, and doesn’t have the experience to play a full season as a lead striker.

But what if City sign Dzeko or Ibrahimovic? Adebayor’s place as a first-choice striker would then be under threat. Allowing for rotation and City’s policy of having two quality players for every position then his place in the squad is still guaranteed. The question would be whether this is enough to keep Adebayor happy.

In pre-season we have been reminded that Adebayor is no target man, and he hasn’t given the attack the focal point it needed in either of the games against Inter or Borussia Dortmund. Quite possibly Dzeko or Ibrahimovic would provide this.

Deals for either of these players would be a struggle, with neither sure to come. With this in mind it’s no surprise to see City standing by their current man. If one of them does arrive, then maybe talk of Adebayor leaving might not seem so far fetched. Renowned transfer tweeter, Christian Larrson thinks so.

Christian Larrson:

“Adebayor: “I want to quit City for Juve”. Are City still pretending he’s staying.”

Elsewhere, the relative silence over Balotelli was lifted by his agent Mino Raiola, who dismissed the wage demands reported in the UK press and said City were still favourites to sign the Italian. Needless to say with Raiola, a deal still seems some way from being done.

Looming on the horizon is the return of Robinho now his loan with Santos has ended. Expect the media to have a field day with this. Quite where he ends up is anybody’s guess at the moment. The best City can hope for is a part-exchange with Barca for Ibra or with Inter for Balotelli/Maicon. No-one else is likely to stump up sufficient cash.

• Do you see a future at City for Adebayor?

• 9 Jan – Blackburn home
• 16 Jan – Everton away
• 26 Jan – Stoke away
• 30 Jan – Porsmouth home

Currently City would say farewell to Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor for the four games, possibly less if their teams get knocked out early on. Togo are unlikely to be amongst the tournament favourites, though Toure’s Ivory Coast will be expected to go far.

While Everton and Stoke away are potentially difficult fixtures, one thing that stands out is that the first three games will be physically demanding, against sides who focus on set-pieces and high balls into the box.

Of our central defenders – Lescott, Toure, Onuoha, Kompany – the smallest is Kolo. Playing the physically stronger Onuoha at centre-back, or the taller Vincent Kompany may well be preferable in these games.

Up front, Hughes talks of Santa Cruz as the kind of striker who relishes a physical battle. The ability to battle it out for a win against rugged opponents on a heavy January pitch probably isn’t why we signed Adebayor. Once again, Santa Cruz may be more suited to these games. Hopefully he will be fully fit and up to speed by then.

Finally there is Portsmouth at home. January could well be an interesting time for Pompey after they have followed in City’s footsteps by first being taken over by a billionaire without access to any money, quickly followed by one who has. At the moment a home fixture against Pompey shouldn’t cause us any undue alarm. They’re unlikely to attract any genuine quality in January, and any signings are still likely to bedding in. City still ought to be confident of victory.

Of course there’s the chance Hughes will look to sign a commanding centre-half in January, especially if we continue to leak goals from crosses. Even without any additions to the squad, a maximum 12 points could be possible, however 10 would still be a decent return.

Adebayor appears to have made himself the first choice striker to lead the attack following his explosive start for the Blues. A brilliant debut goal after three minutes against Blackburn has been followed by a strike in every league game he’s played.

With the form of Bellamy and the high profile Tevez starting to establish himself, it might be assumed that Santa Cruz will be spending a lot of his time on the bench; at least until Adebayor heads off for the African Cup of Nations.

Naturally Santa Cruz doesn’t see it quite like this, and the idea of him and Adebayor in the same team is an interesting one.

Roque Santa Cruz:

“We are big guys but we both also like to play with the ball.

“The kind of football we practice won’t change at all – we play together in training and at some point we should be up front together.”

Both are mobile and Adebayor has shown he likes to work the flanks, where he gets more time to display his footwork. Santa Cruz also has a good touch, to go with an awareness of his team-mates that enables him to link play effectively.

In addition, the Premier League is the most physically demanding in the world, and aerial strength has always been a strong feature for many teams. It’s not just sides like Stoke and Sam Allardyce’s Blackburn that look to high balls into the box as a source of goals. Martin O’Neill has long been renowned for a direct style, as has David Moyes at Everton, where our own Jo lines up alongside Yakubu and Fellaini to provide the 6-foot plus goal threat.

Roque Santa Cruz:

“You get teams who are very physical, and then you will need two big guys up front but to still play good football. That will come and we will take it when it happens.”

At present, the best example is probably at Sunderland, where Steve Bruce has paired Darren Bent and Kenwyne Jones to great effect this season.

Hughes himself never shied away from using the direct approach at Blackburn, and often lamented the absence of an effective target man last season. On bad days, we could be seen launching balls forward even when there was no-one to aim at.

Following the introduction of Santa Cruz on Monday, Hughes spoke about having the option of putting balls into the box and “seeing what happened”. This is hardly the kind of line you’ll hear from Arsene Wenger, but Hughes does have a point.

With the fitness and organisation of modern teams, it is possible for them to come and park the bus, and sometimes we do have to look at other options. Even Barcelona, the best footballing side around last season, failed to break down a Chelsea rearguard action at the Nou Camp in the Champions League.

At the other end of the pitch, it can be equally useful in having big men drop back to defend set-pieces. One of the most surprising features of Adebayor’s play so far has been the number of times he’s produced headed clearances. It’s noticeable that we’ve been more vulnerable in his absence.

With players of the ability of Adebayor and Santa Cruz, it would hardly be the death of football to play them together. It’s likely Hughes will try it at some point, and it could prove another impressive weapon in our armoury.

Mark Hughes:

“We are just glad to put it all behind us now and I am relieved he will be able to play at Aston Villa on Monday night.”

“Manu was in great form before his suspension and having him available again is a huge boost to us.”

In the initial aftermath of the match and back page furore that followed, it looked as though the FA would come down hard on Adebayor. Allowing time to pass before the hearing today may well have worked in City’s favour.

Given the lack of punishment for Robin Van Persie and Gary Neville for their celebrations in front of City fans, there was perhaps a sign that the FA weren’t going to come down to hard on this kind of behaviour.

Much was made of the recent Eduardo ‘diving’ case, where Uefa retracted a hastily imposed ban after the difficulties in consistently applying such punishments became apparent. If they were to ban players retrospectively for every time they exaggerated a foul, virtually every match would have to be looked at.

Maybe the FA had this in mind, recognising that by banning Adebayor, they would be making a rod for their own backs with future goal celebrations. To avoid a future clamour for players to be banned, it makes sense to simply fine Adebayor for ‘improper behaviour’. It should be remembered that the former Arsenal man didn’t break any rules as they stand – he remained within the field of play, and kept his shirt on.

There will be a lot of attention on Adebayor in the coming games, and he will have to show himself capable of controlling his emotions when provocation comes along. Hughes will surely speak to him about this, and I would expect the player to show more discipline in future. The real test of course, will be a trip to the Emirates, but that’s a long way off.

Next up is Villa Park, and the main point of interest for City fans will be the team that Hughes picks. Adebayor looks a certain to return, given his scoring run and strength in the air.

Who will make way? Tevez is finding his fitness and scored twice in the last match. Bellamy is in even better form. Petrov provided a greater threat against West Ham than the ever present Wright-Phillips. Ireland should be fit to return, but can he be accommodated? Barry is a first choice midfielder and de Jong has been instrumental in our recent successes.

The speculation will continue over the weekend, but for now we can content ourselves with looking forward to Adebayor’s next celebration.

He’ll miss the games against Manchester United, Fulham (Carling Cup), and West Ham.