Is right-back really the priority?

The continued speculation linking us with Inter Milan defender Maicon, culminating in his agent's alleged dismissals of our chances of signing his client, as well as moves right-backs from Spain and Portugal respectively, suggest that Mark Hughes might have identified the position as one which needs addressing in the January transfer window.

There's little doubting that the Brazilian is a very good player, and would be an improvement on our current options, but i'm relatively content with fellow South American Pablo Zabaleta in the role. His sending-off at Wigan aside, which ultimately ended any hopes we had of winning that day, i think he's doing a steady enough job since replacing Micah Richards.

However, despite his generally good form, not just in his natural position but also last season when pushed forward into midfield, rumours keep popping up occasionally linking the buy from Espanyol with a move away from England. I see him as a vital squad player at the very least, and an asset to the club not only in terms of playing ability and versatility but also leadership.

Call me old-fashioned but i like a defender who gets stuck in, and wears his heart on his sleeve. Pablo can push his luck at times, but at least it demonstrates a hunger to do well in the shirt. His commitment can't be questioned, and whilst he's not perfect defensively i trust him more than i do Micah. I also think he offers as much going forward, though his final ball could do with working on, though that seems to be a general problem at the club.

I can't really see a reason why the manager or anyone else would earmark the right-back position as that which most urgently needs addressing, especially as Zabaleta was one of Hughes' own purchases and remains a big fan favourite. The poor form of Micah Richards over the last year or so perhaps leaves question marks over his future, but comments of late from Mark would indicate otherwise.

It's quite hard to put a finger on exactly where should be the primary area for concern come January, especially when we're two months away. The recent dip in form shouldn't lead to any reactionary decisions. Should we be in with a shout of a top four finish come the time, then a big signing could boost confidence, but i think we have the players at our disposal already.

Joleon Lescott will need time to settle, and talk of another big-money central defender arriving is perhaps even more puzzling. Our four options there are all top-notch, if three of them have missed games with injuries of late. Wayne Bridge's form has been much improved, and i believe we have more than enough options both in midfield and attack, but are perhaps struggling to fit them into a cohesive system.

Given that the owners have probably demanded a top five finish at least this season, though top six remains the public standpoint, you couldn't blame Hughes for continuously looking to improve his options. Should we have chance in the not-too-distant future to bring genuinely world-class players to the club, then we're probably right to consider them, but a continued production line of arrivals and departures is probably not conducive to building a spirit within a squad needed to compete at the levels we're hoping to, and there has to come a point where the manager's told to work with what he's already been given.

As things are, we have a squad which you can go through and identify two good players for nearly every position. There are areas where backup players perhaps aren't as good as those they hope to replace, but any surgery required to the current squad, in my opinion, would only need to be cosmetic. The starting eleven is good enough to compete, and for the first time in a good while, there's genuine competition for places. Even if Micah is moved on, something fans seem split about, Zab losing his place may not go down too well.

There is always the chance that, if genuinely interested in Maicon, Hughes sees him as a replacement for Shaun Wright-Phillips, or at least as competition. The little winger's another i wouldn't like to see edged out of the side, but Maicon would seem to provide a little more, even from full-back. Perhaps, though maybe far-fetched, Hughes might be contemplating ditching the current 4-4-2 altogether and switch to wing-backs, i can't imagine that might happen but it may solve the current central midfield problems and enable us to let Stevie Ireland off the leash once more.