Part-timers EB/Streymur of the Faroe Islands will take on the Blues in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Cup a fortnight on Wednesday.

Mark Hughes' men are expected to cruise through the tie, with the first leg in front of a 6,000-capacity crowd in either Toftir or Torshavn on July 17 and the return at Barnsley two weeks later.

But EB director Roland Hojsted is just thrilled to be taking on Premier League opponents.

"Manchester City were our No 1 choice, there is no doubt about that,"
he said. "We were all excited about the draw beforehand and that has only increased now we know Manchester City will be our opponents."

The hardest part of the two-legged tie for City - and their fans - may be getting to the islands, more famous for fishing than football.

Fans heading to the Faroes will probably have to change planes in Copenhagen, although there are some direct flights from the UK.

Although Streymur's coach Siggi Clementsen is full-time, his players have other jobs.

Star midfielder Mikkjal Thomasen, one of five Faroe Islands internationals in the squad, is a police officer, along with a number of his team-mates.

Indeed, Thomasen had to provide the police escort to Italy's team when they came to the Faroes for a Euro 2008 qualifier last year before then taking to the pitch himself to face the Azzurri!

But even though Streymur have little chance of upsetting the Blues, Hojsted could not resist a jokey dig at Hughes' team.

"What can they expect? They can expect to lose," he laughed.

Streymur are currently in the middle of their domestic season, and sit eight points clear at the top of the Faroese League, thanks to the goals of leading scorer Armbjorn Hansen.

Despite their minnow status, Hughes insisted City would take EB/Streymur seriously.

"We hope to have a very good run in Europe if we can," he said.

"That is so important for us to keep building as a club and to have recognition in Europe, so that will be a priority.

"The squad will have to have the resources to cope with the demands that will be placed upon it, you need depth to your squad but it has got to be depth with quality."

City's hopes of signing Ronaldinho have not been completely extinguished with the Blues set for further talks with the Brazilian.

Meanwhile, Andreas Isaksson is set to complete a £2m move to PSV Eindhoven.

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