Manchester City boss Mark Hughes is delighted to
have Emmanuel Adebayor available for Monday's Premier League clash
with Aston Villa even if he thinks his striker's £25,000 fine was a
bit over the top.
After serving a three-match ban for scraping his studs across
Robin van Persie's face, Adebayor feared he may be sidelined for
even longer because of his controversial celebration against former
club Arsenal on September 12.
In the end, after City provided evidence of similar cases in the
past and taking into account the intense provocation Adebayor
received from the Gunners supporters at Eastlands, the Football
Association decided to give him a two-game ban, that will be
suspended until next year, and a large fine.
Although the money is not going to make much of an impact on
Adebayor's weekly salary, which is assumed to exceed £100,000 a
week, it is five times more than Manchester United defender Gary
Neville was forced to shell out for his inflammatory celebration
against Liverpool in 2006.
The fact is not lost on Hughes, although he is satisfied
Adebayor is free to play again. "When you look at similar cases in
the past you could argue that the fine is bigger," said Hughes.
"But we knew there was a chance Emmanuel may have got more games so
we are grateful that hasn't happened."
Neville has accused the FA of being over-sensitive about goal
celebrations, which sometimes are understandable given the amount
of bile that often comes down from the stands, Adebayor being an
obvious case in point.
"There is an obligation on players but there is emotion in the
moment," said the Welshman. "Emmanuel apologised straight away but
you must look at the degree of things. There was a bit of
provocation and that needs to be taken into account."
With Adebayor back in the squad and Roque Santa Cruz confirming
his well-being with a substitute appearance in Monday's defeat of
West Ham, Hughes has all four front-line strikers available for the
first time.
Robinho's continued absence with an ankle injury does at least
provide an opportunity to play Craig Bellamy in a wider role on the
left, although with Stephen Ireland now fit after a sickness bug
that ruled him out against the Hammers, Hughes has selection issues
across the pitch.
One man virtually certain to play is England international
Gareth Barry, who has been an outstanding success since his
£12million transfer from Villa at the start of the summer.
The Villa supporters were exceedingly unimpressed when Barry
decided to quit. But a run of four wins from five games matched the
form of City until last weekend's unexpected reverse at Blackburn
and Martin O'Neill insists the damage has not been too bad.
"Teams have to adjust and correct themselves when they lose an
obvious talent like Gareth," said Hughes.
