Shaun Wright-Phillips launched his second spell as a Manchester City player in spectacular fashion yesterday, scoring five minutes after the break and then again eight minutes later as City eased to a 3-0 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Shaun Wright-Phillips launched his second spell as a Manchester City player in spectacular fashion yesterday, scoring five minutes after the break and then again eight minutes later as City eased to a 3-0 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Stephen Ireland had put the visitors ahead in first-half injury-time, but a largely bemused crowd of 39,622 saw Roy Keane's expensively assembled squad wilt alarmingly after the break.

City made light of their midweek UEFA Cup exertions in Denmark to run out comfortable winners, while the Black Cats, despite the presence of Djibril Cisse, El-Hadji Diouf and Steed Malbranque in the starting line-up, lacked inspiration, organisation and any real goal threat.

Asked if he could have imagined such a start for his big-money acquisition, Hughes said: "I could imagine it - I was hoping it was going to happen and thankfully, it did.

"I thought he was excellent, not only the goals, but his general play. Every time he was in possession, it looked like something was going to happen.

"He is going to bring a new element to our game and a new threat to opposition teams because he has proved once again that he is an exceptionally gifted football player."

Hughes last night celebrated a double transfer deal when City confirmed they have signed 23-year-old Argentinian Olympic goal medallist Pablo Zabaleta in a £6.45m switch from Espanyol, and completed a short-term deal for Nurnberg's Brazilian defender Glauber Berti, 25.

Sunderland had started their home campaign with an unfortunate 1-0 defeat by Liverpool, but they bounced back in style with victory over Tottenham, and with Anton Ferdinand becoming the club's ninth summer signing this week, hopes were high for a first home win of the campaign. But Keane was in no mood for excuses after yesterday's collapse.

"Some days you might have two or three players under-performing - I can't think of one player today who performed to the level we know they can."