Paul Dickov says Mark Hughes is a great appointment for Manchester City.

Off contract City striker Dickov played under Hughes at Blackburn Rovers and told the Manchester Evening News: "He has a great eye for talent. He picked up Ryan Nelson, one of the most consistent of central defenders, for nothing and paid only £700,000 for David Bentley who is now worth anything up to 20 times that amount.

"This season he has signed one of the bargains of the season in Roque Santa Cruz.

"Blackburn were second bottom of the league when he took over and looked like being relegated but he organised the side and gathered everyone together and they have never looked back finishing high up in the table the last few seasons.

"Rovers reached an FA Cup semi final and then in his three complete seasons in charge finished sixth, tenth and seventh.

"I hear what people are saying about the United thing but I can assure them that no-one likes their team to beat them more than Mark Hughes. In his second season in charge Blackburn did the double of United.

"He is a professional and wants to win every game he plays. The fact that he played for United 15 years ago, or whatever it is, shouldn't come into the equation. He is a top manager who knows his way around the Premier League like the back of his hand.

"To me he would be a perfect fit at City. The United thing would not be an issue for him and hopefully not for our fans."