Chris Hughton is adamant Ricky van Wolfswinkel will prove the Premier League doubters wrong after the Dutchman was ruled out again for the weekend trip to Newcastle with a nagging toe injury.

The 24-year-old has notched one goal in eight league games following his initial £8.5m summer transfer from Sporting Lisbon before suffering the foot injury which has sidelined him in recent weeks. Hughton confirmed yesterday van Wolfswinkel is unavailable for this weekend's Tyneside test but the City boss is convinced he will weigh in with goals over the long haul.

'When you sign someone for that money there is always that hype and expectation,' he said. 'Some hit the ground running and the goals are flying in, with others it takes a little bit longer. One thing I couldn't fault Ricky on is what he has given the team in terms of his work ethic and his runs. Perhaps he hasn't got the goals at this moment that he would like to have got, but I can't fault his contribution.

'You can look right across the Premier League at this moment and there will be other big-name strikers who have come in and not got the goals they would like.

'He is a confident lad so that is not a problem and that confidence comes from his CV because he is someone used to scoring goals.

'I think he took a little while to settle in Portugal but his goal ratio was excellent there and I have no worries that he will continue to contribute in the way that he has. As long as he keeps doing that the goals will come.'

Hughton allayed fears van Wolfswinkel's current period on the sidelines is a growing cause for concern.

'It is certainly not a serious injury but it is taking a little while to heal,' he said. 'We just have to make sure we give him the rest he needs. It's still the toe problem that is causing him some difficulty but it is not a bad injury by any stretch. It is a small muscular problem. I want him 100pc and he will be. It's frustrating for him because he wants to play in all the matches.'