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Vignal vows to prove his worth

LIVERPOOL defender Gregory Vignal is determined to use his loan spell at Bastia to show he is worthy of a first-team place at Anfield.

The French Under-21 international is on loan at Bastia until the end of the season and the former Montpellier ace has had an immediate impact helping the club to win the first two games he has played in.

"Returning to France is not a punishment for me," said Vignal.

"By gaining some first-team experience, I aim to show Liverpool I deserve another chance.

"This is just a learning phase for me."

Vignal's Anfield team-mate Djimi Traore has backed his fellow countryman's move to Bastia having done a similar thing last season.

Traore spent all of last season on loan at Lens, but has established himself as a regular in Gerard Houllier's plans this term.

"It's not much good training with the likes of Michael Owen if you never get a game," Traore told French Soir newspaper.

"I came back to Liverpool with a different status after my loan spell in France.

Meanwhile, former Liverpool outcast Bernard Diomede is hoping to win a long-term deal at new club Ajaccio after ending his Anfield nightmare.

The World Cup winner was allowed to leave Liverpool last week after making just five appearances for The Reds in three years.

Diomede scored the winning goal for his new club in Wednesday's 1-0 win over Troyes and he is determined to kick-start his faltering career.

"I feel I'm wanted here and it's a nice feeling after playing a peripheral role for so long," said Diomede.

"Ajaccio might help me start a new career."