JOE HART: The youngest first-choice keeper in the Premier League at just 21, Hart has the potential to become England's number one for years to come.

Signed from Shrewsbury for just £600,000 in 2006, Hart saw off the challenge of Sweden international Andreas Isaksson to make the goalkeeper's jersey his own last season.

MICAH RICHARDS: Versatile former youth-team captain who played at centre-back for his club and right-back for England last season. Richards sometimes over-relies on his pace to get him out of trouble, but his reading of the game is improving. Injured his ankle during Monday's 2-2 draw at Newcastle, but has a chance of being fit to face Stoke.

RICHARD DUNNE: City's captain and longest-serving player, having arrived from Everton for £3m in October 2000. Dunne has lifted the club's Player of the Year award more times than anyone else, having won it for the fourth year running last season. He looked to be on his way to Portsmouth after Sven Goran Eriksson's departure, but new boss Mark Hughes persuaded him to sign a new four-year contract.

TAL BEN HAIM: Israel international who was outstanding during his three years at Bolton and then got lost at Chelsea. Although signed as cover when he arrived for £5m during the summer, Ben Haim's ability to play anywhere across the back four means he will get his fair share of games as injuries and suspensions bite.

JAVIER GARRIDO: A left-back who likes to attack, and who can hit a mean free-kick too, as he proved by scoring his first City goal against Liverpool three weeks ago. Garrido took a while to settle in English football after arriving from Real Sociedad in 2007. But after losing his place to Michael Ball in mid-season, the Spaniard has been Hughes's regular choice on the left side of defence this term.

SHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS: He was born in London and schooled at Nottingham Forest, but any City fan will tell you that Wright-Phillips is one of their own. He came through the Blues' youth academy after leaving Forest, bursting into the first team as an attacking winger able to play on either flank. City fans watched with sadness as his club and England career stalled following his move to Chelsea in 2005. Since returning in August, he has looked a player reborn.

STEPHEN IRELAND: A youth-team graduate who took a while to win the fans over, Ireland has been in the form of his life this season. He has an eye for a killer pass and a deadly finish. Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni is still trying to tempt the midfielder out of self-imposed international exile, which was partly a result of the fall-out from the 'Grannygate' controversy of September 2007.

VINCENT KOMPANY: Belgium international signed from Hamburg in August as a long-term replacement for Dietmar Hamann in the holding midfield role. Kompany fell out with Hamburg after staying with Belgium's Olympic squad in Beijing for longer than had been agreed. A versatile, tough-tackling midfielder who can also play at centre-back.

DIETMAR HAMANN: Richard Dunne may have been City's Player of the Year last season, but the wily Hamann was just as important to the side. The 35-year-old has a Champions League title, two UEFA Cups, two Bundesliga titles and 59 Germany caps to his name. His experience in midfield is still being put to good use by Hughes.

ROBINHO (main picture): City's new owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan made a serious statement of intent by breaking the British transfer record to sign Robinho from Real Madrid for £32.5m just seconds before the transfer deadline on September 1.

A debut goal against Chelsea showed just what the Brazilian is capable of. His willingness to run at defenders has made him an instant crowd favourite.

Has been deployed in an attacking left midfield role in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

JO: The beanpole Brazilian striker was City's record signing for all of eight-and-a-half weeks after his £19m move from CSKA Moscow in early July. He managed more than a goal every other game in the Russian Premier League, but is finding life in England a little tougher. Once he does settle, the goals will flow.

KASPER SCHMEICHEL: Son of Manchester United legend Peter, Kasper started last season as City's first-choice keeper, before losing out to Isaksson, then Hart. Schmeichel is vocal and a great shot-stopper, but sometimes looks vulnerable on crosses. He has acknowledged he may have to leave City to get regular first-team football.

NEDUM ONUOHA: Born in Nigeria and raised in north Manchester, Onuoha is a City fan through and through. Yet he could have been a top sprinter – he beat British Olympian Craig Pickering in a 100m race as a teenager. An England Under-21 international, Onuoha has slipped behind the suspended Pablo Zabaleta in the fight for right-back spot.

GLAUBER BERTI: The Brazilian centre-back was an unused substitute at Newcastle, having impressed in a reserve outing against Liverpool. He was signed on a one-year deal from German club Nuremberg in August, but will probably have to wait for a run in the side.

ELANO: The first of four Brazilians to arrive at City, Elano started like a train after joining the club from Shakhtar Donetsk at the beginning of last season. An injury suffered on international duty with Brazil last October affected the play-maker's form and he hasn't quite been the same player since, but he's still capable of producing magic.

GELSON FERNANDES: Switzerland international who challenged Hamann for the holding midfield role last season, but has had to be content with a place on the bench this term. The 22-year-old cost City just over £4m when he arrived from Sion in the summer of 2007 and has proved himself a useful squad player full of drive and enthusiasm.

CHED EVANS: Rhyl-born Evans hit 10 goals in 28 games on loan at Norwich last season.

City manager Hughes insisted the 19-year-old youth-team graduate was staying in Manchester despite interest from Championship clubs.

DANIEL STURRIDGE: The nephew of former Stoke striker Simon, he comes from a family of footballers. His other uncle, Dean, played for Derby and dad Michael was on the books at Birmingham. Still only 19, Sturridge's goals helped City win the FA Youth Cup last season.