The £32.5million British record signing has recovered from the ankle injury that sidelined him for almost three months and was part of the City side that got their Premier League campaign back on track last weekend by beating leaders Chelsea.

After a run of seven successive draws, it was the perfect time to find winning form again given the packed Christmas campaign is fast approaching, as well as that blockbuster Carling Cup semi-final with Manchester United.

And, given City are now only 11 points adrift of Chelsea and have a game in hand, Robinho thinks the Blues should still be aiming high.

"We were really happy to win on Saturday," said the Brazilian.

"But the most important thing now is to win. There are still a lot of games to go and we want to be top."

After so long out, Robinho has no sense of foreboding about a festive programme that includes a Boxing Day encounter with Stoke and a trip to Wolves on December 28.

It is not a time of year the South American was used to being in action during his time at Real Madrid. But now he cannot wait.

"I am just happy to be playing," said the 25-year-old.

"I feel excellent. I am strong, physically and mentally, and I want to play in every game. I like to play football anywhere, at any time."

Robinho will hope to keep his place for Saturday's short trip to Bolton, where he could yet be joined by Craig Bellamy, despite this week's swine flu scare.

It is expected both the Wales captain and young team-mate Vladimir Weiss, who missed the Chelsea game after being sent home to avoid passing the virus on, will be available.

City assistant boss Mark Bowen told the Manchester Evening News: "Players come in every day with sniffles, coughs and colds and the doctor has to determine whether it is the onset of something more serious.

"It is his decision whether they have to be sent home."

One player who definitely will not be involved at the Reebok Stadium is England defender Wayne Bridge.

The former Chelsea star was carried off at the weekend following a clash with Juliano Belletti.

Manager Mark Hughes initially felt Bridge would be out of action for a couple of weeks.

However, scans have revealed the £12million full-back suffered medial ligament damage, which could sideline him for between four and six weeks.

If that timescale proves correct, it will mean Bridge must sit out both legs of City's Carling Cup semi-final with Manchester United, plus the Blues' FA Cup third-round tie at Middlesbrough.

In addition, City have eight league games to play before the end of January, although Bowen is hoping to get Bridge back slightly earlier than expected.

"It depends on his recovery but Wayne tells us he is a good healer and he is a good professional, so we are hoping it will be sooner," he said.

For the Bolton game, Hughes has the option of either using Joleon Lescott at full-back and pairing Kolo Toure with Nedum Onuoha, or veteran Brazilian Sylvinho could come in for his first Premier League start after joining from Barcelona in the summer.