It's not quite planes, trains and automobiles but Manchester City boss Mark Hughes feels just getting to the Faroe Islands will be a challenge in itself when his side face EB Streymur in the UEFA Cup.

While the July 17 trip to Torshaven is a trip into the unknown for City it is not for Hughes, who went to the Faroes with Wales in his playing days.

And while Hughes is not expecting too much of a test on the pitch, getting to it definitely presents a problem.

"It is a long trek to a place many people probably don't know a lot about," he told www.mcfc.co.uk

"I actually had the experience of playing there with the Wales team a few years back.

"It was quite interesting with a lot of trips on little boats to cross expanses of water, so logistically it will be a challenge to everybody."

Given the early stage of City's pre-season programme, Hughes could probably have done without the trip itself, especially as two clubs from Wales and another couple from the Republic of Ireland remained in the draw when the Eastlands outfit were sent on their expedition.

However, having gained entry into the competition through the Fair Play League, Hughes is not complaining, particularly as the prospect of a decent European run can only help talks with Ronaldinho, which are believed to have been re-opened.

As the Brazilian's fellow countryman Jo is also on the verge of completing a record £19million switch from CSKA Moscow and skipper Richard Dunne thought to be poised to commit his future to the Blues, these are exciting times for City fans less than a couple of months after they were in open revolt over Sven-Goran Eriksson's abrupt departure.

And Hughes is certainly not expecting EB Streymur, who have never won the Faroese league, to cause his side many problems.

"Obviously, the strength of their league is nowhere near the Premier League, so you would like to think we would progress," said Hughes.

"Technically, we will be far and away the better side so you would expect that to be enough."

However, the one area Hughes accepts EB Streymur will be in better shape than his own is in their levels of fitness.

It is something the former Blackburn chief is acutely aware of, although it is hardly likely to mean the second leg, at Barnsley's Oakwell ground on July 31, is competitive.

"We have a little bit of information on them already and the one worry is the levels of fitness," he said.

"At Blackburn, we had experience of the UEFA Cup at this stage of the season and it can be difficult.

"The fitness factor does come into play just because the teams you face at this stage invariably are in the middle of their season.

"I think the team we are going to face from the Faroes will have played 13 games by the time we do meet them so they are ahead of us in fitness terms."

Elsewhere, Northern Ireland challengers Cliftonville received the most eye-catching draw, paired with FC Copenhagen.

Glentoran and St Patrick's Athletic both face opposition from Latvia in the form of SK Liepajas Metalurgs and Olimps respectively.

Cork take on Finnish side FC Haka, who have tackled both Liverpool and Rangers in European competition in recent years.

Neither Welsh representative will have high hopes of qualifying with Bangor forced to face Denmark's Midtjylland and TNS also away from home in the first leg against Lithuanian side Suduva.

More news from SportingLife.com