Since his £32.5million move from Real Madrid 18 months ago, the Brazilian has enjoyed brief productive spells but largely, his time at Eastlands has been tinged with disappointment, with his work-rate, or lack of it, coming under intense scrutiny.

His relationship with former boss Mark Hughes disintegrated completely and it seemed like an act of retribution when he was dropped for the Welshman's final game in charge, against Sunderland last month.

But Robinho has only started one game under Mancini, although he did make a brief substitute appearance against Blackburn on Monday as City shot into the Premier League's top four.

While Mancini has played down his lack of recent outings, and hinted the Samba star will be involved at Everton tomorrow evening, it is clear that if Robinho is going to re-establish himself at City now the prospect of a transfer window move to Barcelona has receded, he will have to earn a place rather than expect it to be given.

"How much a player cost is not important," said Mancini.

"What you pay only matters when you are in the act of buying someone.

"The important thing after that is the player working hard and playing well."

Despite his chequered past, and the previous evidence of a lack of work-rate, Mancini does believe Robinho can improve.

He is also convinced the former Real Madrid man's versatility does not just consign him to a battle with Craig Bellamy and Martin Petrov for the left-sided midfield berth.

"Robinho is a top player," said Mancini. "I watched him a lot when he was at Real Madrid.

"Brazilians tend to be very technical and he is the same. He can play right or left, or near the first striker and really I don't know what position is best for the team.

"But there are some situations where he can improve. He does understand the work ethic of the team and that is important."

Mancini feels blessed to have so many strikers at his disposal, even though it is going to cause him a selection headache when they are all fit.

Robinho was ruled out of the FA Cup trip to Middlesbrough with a minor muscular problem, while contact is yet to be made with Emmanuel Adebayor since his horrific experience at the African Nations Cup.

It is anticipated the £25million Togo star will return to England at some point later next week, although Mancini will still have to assess his mental state before considering him for selection.

With new signing Patrick Vieira ruled out with the calf injury he picked up in his final game with Inter Milan, City are expected to stick with the side that performed so well against Blackburn for what constitutes the toughest test of Mancini's reign so far.

It seems barely credible that less than four weeks have gone by since Hughes lost his job and chief executive Garry Cook was subjected to a brutal assault over the manner of the dismissal.

Yet Mancini is eager to play down the suggestion that, after four successive wins, he is some sort of miracle worker, insisting there is plenty of improvement ahead of his troops.

"Two months ago these same players drew eight successive games," he said.

"Football can be very strange. Manchester City are a good team. Sometimes we will play well, on other occasions we won't.

"The main thing is that we show a good mentality all the time."