Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is convinced goalkeeper Stuart Taylor will prove to be shrewd acquisition.

The 28-year-old has arrived from Aston Villa as back-up to Shay Given, following Joe Hart's loan move to Birmingham City.

The deal took many observers by surprise, but Hughes told City's official website: "Stuart is a good fit for us.

"He is a top-class keeper who has played numerous games at the highest level. Being the back-up keeper is not an easy role to play in the squad but it is an important one.

"You perhaps need a certain type of mentality to be able to cope with the correct intensity every single day without the prospect of a game at the end of the week.

"It is not that Stuart has any lack of ambition in any way. He has a distinct role and that is to push Shay as hard as he can. He sees this as an opportunity for himself."