Manchester City owners set Mark Hughes top six target

Mark Hughes has been warned he must rescue Manchester City's ailing campaign and achieve a top-six finish to satisfy the club's new owner.

While Hughes received the backing of owner Sheikh Mansour following the Arab billionaire's takeover, City have picked up just five points from a possible 24 to stand one place above the bottom three on goal difference.

And City chief executive Garry Cook, who claimed the club are not in a relegation battle despite languishing in 17th place, claimed it was still possible for Hughes and his players to finish in the top six.

"We've always said top 10 but ideally top six is what we're aiming for in the very short-term," said Cook.

"We believe there's going to be much improvement in the back half of the season.

"Once we get through the first transfer window, when Mark's impact will be able to advance the future of the club, things will start to settle down.

"We're not sitting around worrying about what happens if it goes wrong.

"Mark clearly knows what success looks like because he's played and managed at the highest level.

"He and I aren't standing around thinking 'what if'.

"We're thinking about when we become successful and how that will look."

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