Mark Hughes, the Manchester City manager, says he was baffled by the decision to call Joe Hart into the England squad for the World Cup qualifying match against Belarus.

Hart and David Wheater, the Middlesbrough defender, were drafted into the senior set-up after helping the under-21 side defeat Wales to secure their place in the European Championship finals. However, both players were unused for the 3-1 victory in Minsk.

"It was a long way to go just to sit in the stand, and he had played two games in a short space of time as well," Hughes said. "But we were not going to stand in the way of players progressing their international careers.

"What value it was to Joe just to go out there and watch the game is open to debate. He would have been around the senior squad and would have gained an understanding of what is is like under Fabio Capello. From that point of view, maybe it was the right decision and a good exercise.

"There was a lot of travelling and not a great deal of purpose from Joe's point of view. But he is in Capello's thoughts, and we have to be pleased about that."

Hughes says he expects Martin Petrov to be sidelined "for quite some time" after sustaining knee ligament damage on international duty.

"Martin is going to see a couple more specialists over the weekend," Hughes said. "But the view is he has a significant injury and could be out for quite some time. The initial scans do not look good.

"Martin had ten minutes in one game and 20 minutes in another before going to play for his country. It is a big 'ask' for players, and they are at risk on occasions if they have not had the required time on the pitch beforehand."

Robinho looks certain to shake off a thigh problem and face Newcastle United on Monday night. Hughes has not heard from the Brazil team doctors after the forward was substituted during the draw with Colombia. He hopes the silence is good news.

"We have heard nothing from their medical department, so we are assuming he is fit and well," he said. "We have seen the incident where he had the injury and had to come off. It does not look like a significant injury, just a clash."

City will be without the defender Pablo Zabaleta at St James' Park as he begins a three-match suspension after being sent off in the defeat by Liverpool.