Mark Hughes, the Manchester City manager, has been assured that his immediate future is safe as he prepares to fly to Abu Dhabi today to meet the club’s owner for the first time, but he faces a battle to retain the confidence of Sheikh Mansour after a sharp downturn in results.

Sheikh Mansour has seen City win only two out of nine Barclays Premier League matches since his Abu Dhabi United Group bought the club on September 1. Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the new chairman, indicated to Hughes over dinner on Saturday evening that he and the Sheikh recognised the size and long-term nature of the task Hughes faces at the City of Manchester Stadium, but noises emanating from the Middle East suggest that patience is finite and that there is pressure on the former Blackburn Rovers manager to improve results if he is to remain in charge long term.

Hughes and Garry Cook, the executive chairman, are due to speak to Sheikh Mansour tomorrow before flying back to Manchester the same day, with the manager eager to take the opportunity to spell out his vision for the club. In particular, Hughes will explain the need to reinforce his squad with experienced players of proven Premier League quality, such as Roque Santa Cruz, the Blackburn forward, rather than more exotic signings along the lines of Robinho, who was delivered by the Sheikh in a British record £34.2 million deal on the day that the club was bought.

The reassuring aspect for Hughes is that Al Mubarak, who was appointed by Sheikh Mansour, seems to be rather more level-headed than Thaksin Shinawatra, the previous owner and chairman, who dismissed Sven-Göran Eriksson on an apparent whim at the end of last season. “We are calm and under control and we on the board have the highest regard for Mark,” Al Mubarak said yesterday. “I am personally committed to him as I am committed to the partnership between Garry Cook, Mark and myself.

“I am committed to Mark and his team and I think people will see in January that we have good foundations in place in the team, we have a good coach and that we will be upgrading in terms of players. Hopefully, the results will come.”