EB/Streymur preview

Of the six players who represented their countries over the summer - Corluka, Fernandes, Elano, Benjani, Caicedo and Sturridge (for England U19's) - only three, Elano, Corluka and Benjani, are in the BBC's squad. The BBC is known to be occasionally a bit slapdash about these things, but this is probably accurate, with Gelson being given extra rest following his participation in Euro 2008. Hughes has previously said it would be unlikely for them to play a role, and if they did, it would be limited. These omissions will mean we might learn slightly less about what Hughes' City might look like from this game as we would have hoped.

It is fair, then, to factor Elano and Benjani out of the running for the starting eleven, along with injured strike duo Corradi and Bojinov (one will be more of a loss than the other). Jo, however, looks as if he may start despite previous concerns over his fitness. If he does, Evans and Bianchi will compete for the remaining striker's spot, assuming Hughes plays 4-4-2.

Indeed, the formation and the remaining personnel desicions are not certain. It largely depends on our approach. If we were still managed by Sven, the idea would surely be to try to outpass them - Hamann's technique over Ireland's running power, Garrido's overlaps over Ball's solidity, perhaps even 4-2-3-1, and other features from 06-07. Hughes may adopt a more pragmatic approach, relying on our base Premier League levels of fitness to overcome the opposition, who are well into their league season. Given that our manager is indeed Hughes, we might see a dogged, get-the-job-done approach, and this possible team (4-4-2):-

Hart;Onuoha,Dunne,Richards,Ball;Vassell,Ireland,Johnson,Petrov;Jo,Bianchi.

Dangerman Mikkjal Thomassen is a key emission for our opponents (according to the Telegraph anyway), and probably the most informed man on this game predicts an easy win. There is still the theoretical possibility of City's two trademarks, losing to awful teams and producing the unexpected, humiliatingly combining, but Hughes' newly installed grit factor should see us through if things get tough.