MARK Hughes is expecting more to come from man of the moment Abo Eisa.

The popular City forward has netted in back-to-back games to banish the memories of an injury-haunted time at Valley Parade.

Eisa delivered a man-of-the-match display against Rochdale, although his first-half strike could not save the Bantams from an unexpected home defeat.

But he is set for another leading role at Wimbledon tomorrow - with a ringing endorsement from his manager.

“I thought he was arguably one of our best performers if not the best,” said Hughes.

“He’s had a really difficult period. To be out so long then get so close in the summer and have another setback shows the character of Abo.

“He’s been able to get his head down once again and understand he’s going to be out for another significant period. He still kept his personality and didn’t let it affect him too badly.

“Clearly on occasions it was getting him down. But he’s kept positive and he’s always backed his ability.

“He’s always said that when he’s fit and well he expects to be in the team and scoring. At the moment, he’s doing that.”

Eisa was back in the starting line-up in midweek after coming off the bench to hit the New Year’s Day winner against Salford with his first touch on the pitch.

That was also his first goal for City - 18 months after joining from Scunthorpe.

Hughes added: “He’s a nice kid and when you see guys like Abo get success after a little bit of a setback in their career then you’re pleased.

“His goals have been great and that’s important for him. He wants to get his tally up.

“But his general play as well, which is arguably as important if not more so, was good in terms of linking the play and being a threat.

“He’ll get better because he’ll get more games.”

Hughes is confident of a quick response from City’s midweek setback as they head to south London.

“I sense we’ll be right back on it,” he added. “Notwithstanding the decisions that went against us, we weren’t at the level that we’d hit against Salford.

“The pitch didn’t lend itself to fast-flowing football in terms of pass and move. I think we got bogged down literally in clearing our lines and trying to win possession a little bit higher on too many occasions.

“We’re about getting the balance right. When we do, like we did against Harrogate and Salford, we look very good.

“If it’s too much one way or the other, that affects the level of our performance. It’s all about the balance.”