Manchester City boss Mark Hughes has confirmed that midfielder Michael Johnson will miss the rest of the season after suffering a serious cruciate knee injury in training.

The news will come as a massive blow to the 21-year-old, who only returned from 12 months on the sidelines with an abdominal injury in September.

Johnson, who will have surgery on his knee at the end of the month, had returned to first-team action, making two substitute appearances and scoring in the 5-1 win over Scunthorpe in the Carling Cup back in October.

But Hughes revealed that the talented midfielder will now take no further part in City's attempts to break into the top four this season, but has backed him to make a recovery from the setback.

"He was very much in my thoughts with Christmas coming up," Hughes said.

"It is going to be a difficult time for him but he has shown in the past real strength of character.

"That will sustain him and he will have an operation on the 21st on his cruciate ligament."