On-form Vieira ready to fight for Man City place

Manchester City midfielder Patrick Vieira insisted Thursday he is not daunted by the rich array of talent at Eastlands that could limit his chances of first team football this season.

The 33-year-old former France captain moved to Manchester from Inter Milan in January but injury restricted him to just nine appearances as Roberto Mancini’s side finished in fifth place in the Premier League, just missing out on this year’s Champions League.

Mancini now has four holding midfielders he can call upon, including England’s Gareth Barry, new signing Yaya Toure and Dutch World Cup finalist Nigel de Jong.

But Vieira says he is ready to give everything in training to show he deserves to be in the starting line-up.

“I still have the desire and determination to do well and I strongly believe that if every player gives 100 percent commitment to the football club it will be an exciting season for us,” Vieira told reporters here.

“I leave picking the team up to the manager. Every day, every single player will try to show the manager that he wants to play and after that he will pick the eleven that start.

“But if we want to do well in the league and the Europa Cup, and the national cups, it will be all of the 25 players who make a difference. If every single player understands that this squad will go really far.”

Vieira is determined to make up for the disappointment of last season when his absences led City fans to question the wisdom of signing him.

“Last season was frustrating for me,” he said. “It is never easy when you arrive at a new club and are already injured. You want to get back as soon as you can but physically you are always behind the other players.

“It was quite tough and difficult but I was happy with the way I played in the last few games.”

The Frenchman came through a testing pre-season training and is ready to take the field in City’s opener against Tottenham Hotspur – the team that pipped them for fourth last season – on Saturday.

“I have had no injuries and not missed any training,” he said. “Now I have to work really hard, and every time the manager needs me to start or be on the bench I will be ready to give everything.”