Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong is hopeful of making his Manchester City debut next week.
'Training animal' could play against Newcastle
Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong is hopeful of making his Manchester City debut next week.
De Jong secured his transfer from Hamburg to Eastlands earlier this week, penning a four-and-a-half-year contract after an undisclosed fee was agreed.
The tenacious 24-year-old has not played since October due to a knee injury, but has declared himself raring to go ahead of City's clash with Newcastle United next Wednesday.
He told the club's
official website: "I didn't have an operation, but I am ready to go and looking forward to my first game.
Crunching
"I have not had a lot of match practice, but I am confident in my qualities and abilities. I have been training properly for four weeks now.
"I hope to play next week, I have to see how I fit in with the team first but it should be a new start for both the team and me."
De Jong added: "I like to tackle. I prefer the role in front of the defence, to win the ball and give it out to my attacking players to let them do their thing, as a defensive midfielder should do.
"I'm a training animal. I like the intensity of a good training session, which is something I am good at."
