After a short break in Abu Dhabi and a meeting with owner Sheikh Mansour, Hughes is now ready to get City's season back on track again after five successive draws.

That has been dubbed a mini-slump by some who expect more from a team put together at a cost of £200m over the past three transfer windows.

It has left the Blues in sixth spot, two places below the standard required for Champions League qualification, which has been put forward as the minimum target for Hughes to regard the campaign as a success.

But the Welshman refuses to be drawn in by such arbitrary goals. His primary goal is improvement and, in that sense, the march is inexorable.

made progress

"With the resources we have, people are saying the top four is the minimum requirement. That is actually not the case," said Hughes.

"The clubs you have to overcome to get there are not just the best teams in the Premier League, they are also some of the best teams in the world.

"That is the challenge for everybody. And it is very difficult.

"What we are looking for is progress and I would defy anyone to say we have not made progress from where we were last year."

City now visit Anfield on Saturday for an intriguing encounter with Liverpool who have endured a tough time themselves in recent weeks.

City will go to Merseyside in bullish mood as the only Barclays Premier League club not to have lost more than once.

Even that defeat, in the sixth minute of stoppage-time at Manchester United, was extremely unlucky.

learning process

Hughes added: "We have played 13 games in all competitions and we have been beaten once.

"Ideally we would like to have changed some of those draws to wins but we have reached a consistent level that allows us to compete in every game.

"In terms of where we were last year and where we are now, it is a different place. I am pleased with the progress we are making and that will continue. I am certain of it.

"However well prepared you are, however well organised you are, or how much thought goes into a plan to bring success to a club, sport is a difficult business. It is fluid.

"Ideally we can get to March and April and be in the mix for competitions. If we are, then we will have a good run at them.

"But it is an education for everyone to see the scrutiny that comes with being a big club. Everything is changing about the perception of Manchester City.

"That is a learning process for everybody and is something that will never be the same again."