Mark Hughes is aiming for Manchester City to make their mark in Europe as well as on the domestic scene this season.

That's why he views the UEFA Cup as a big part of his grand plan to take the club to a higher level.

Hughes believes new recruits like Robinho, Pablo Zabaleta, Jo and Vincent Kompany, not to mention Shaun Wright-Phillips, will improve the longer they test themselves on foreign soil.

First of all City have to complete the job against AC Omonia tonight in the first-round, second-leg match at Eastlands after winning the opening leg 2-1 in Cyprus.

City boss Hughes, who had some success in the UEFA Cup at Blackburn, said: "I thought at my previous club European football was key to our development.

"It gives you different experiences and different problems to solve. That helps you coming back to domestic competition.

"It is the same at City. If we get into the group stages that is the first objective achieved. You are then guaranteed a number of games that takes you into the new year and that is important.

"But first we need to put this tie to bed quite quickly."

Wright-Phillips, 26, has bedded in quickly on his return to City following his £9million move from Chelsea in August.

He is growing in confidence, according to Hughes, and getting closer to international recognition in the process.

Though England manager Fabio Capello can call on Theo Walcott, David Bentley and David Beckham on the right flank for the World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan on 11 October, Wright-Phillips must have a good shout for a recall.

He won the last of his 19 caps in February and Hughes said: "He certainly has more experience than two of those players [Walcott and Bentley]. I am sure that if Shaun is selected, he'd give his all."