Stoke City: I'm fit, firing and raring to go for Manchester City clash, says Steven Nzonzi
STEVEN Nzonzi has declared himself fit to face champions Manchester City on Saturday – despite not playing a game so far this season.
Stoke's £3m deadline-day capture has been sidelined since the end of last season after falling out with Blackburn's hierarchy following their relegation.
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Stoke City's Steven Nzonzi says he will be fit for Saturday's game against Manchester City.
But now the 23-year-old Frenchman insists he is ready to take on the Premier League champions... if he is selected to make his debut.
"I feel good," he declared, "because although I have not played, I have been training and working hard all of the time.
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"It was difficult not playing, difficult mentally sometimes, but now I am fine.
"It has been good at Stoke because everybody is making me feel good and feel welcome – the staff and the players."
Nzonzi watched from the stands as Stoke drew 2-2 at Wigan in their last outing 10 days ago when he was suitably impressed with Charlie Adam's debut.
But he stressed he isn't taking it for granted that he and the Scotland international will form a long-term midfield partnership.
"It was a good game away from home," Nzonzi recalled. "The team is very strong and had a good shape.
"As soon as he (Adam) came onto the pitch, I think he gave something good to the team. He has good quality.
"But it is not really my decision if we play together. The manager will decide what is going to happen.
"Whether it is me and Adam, or somebody else, the most important thing is that the team is good."
Nzonzi would appear to fit the bill of a typical Tony Pulis player more than the crafty Adam, as the former Blackburn favourite combines strength and power with an eye for a pass and an ability to attack dangerous areas.
But Nzonzi himself is reluctant to be pigeon-holed as he jostles for position in central midfield against at least half-a-dozen genuine rivals.
"Anything he (Pulis) asks me to do," he stated, "I will try to do it. I cannot say if I am his type of player, but I will just do my best to show I can be good for the team."
But he admits he would rather be playing with Stoke than against them after his Blackburn outfit lost their last five Premier League fixtures against City.
"It was not painful," he laughed, "but it was very hard to play against Stoke, especially playing at this stadium.
"Stoke are a strong team… and always hard."
Irish duo Glenn Whelan and Jon Walters were back training at Clayton Wood yesterday after being released by Ireland following Saturday's World Cup qualifying victory in Kazakhstan.
But full-back Marc Wilson, who was recently recalled to the Ireland set-up after an 18-month absence, remains with the national squad for tonight's friendly against Oman at Fulham's Craven Cottage.
Comments
by boothernender
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 10:01PM
“Who gives a damn Soccerfoot. It's a stupid argument and no one is interested.”
by potterforlife
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 10:00PM
“Hope you have a great visit Drengen, I have a holiday to pack for so no show after the game for me.”
by potterforlife
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 9:57PM
“More insults soccerfoot - cannot help yourself can you
Problem you have is you cannot remember all that you post can you? wingers when you can claim TP plays players out of position, midfielders when you want them to be.
By the way, even with the wingers, it is still only nine”
by boothernender
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 9:43PM
“Those of us who followed Stoke during leaner times might remember imes when we have fielded 11 players who couldn't really play anywhere.”
by SCFC4EVA
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 9:41PM
“oh damn, she definitely is potty for life. now it's wingers are not midfielders !! what planet are you from ?? whatever you do pottyforlife, don't go on the official website and look at the squad, don't look up the definition of a midfielder, don't as k anyone that knows the slightest bit about football (like me) where a midfielder plays because you will be even more embarrassed than you are making yourself right now !
how many excuses for poor performances and pathetic managing of players can you people actually come up with ?? you do realize that it was your god Pulis who brought those players in to begin with because he thought they were good? you do, don't you?”
by Pottedrengen
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 9:20PM
“And there are many other examples, the best of course, Skeels who played everywhere and was good everywhere, Smith who frequently was emergency striker, Greenhoff who could switch into midfield easily, Dodd who played anywhere defensively, and Pejic who was originally a winger. The list goes on and on, what Pulis does is to test his players' tactical flexibility, and some come up trumps and some dont.”
by deadlyscfc
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 9:06PM
“So sick of quoting you the facts over Tuncay SF,yet you still refuse to accept.So here we go again Tuncay is the close cousin of our Genghis and yes we have the family photos as well.Tunny always accepted that there was no actual natural role for him to play,he agreed he could not tackle he agreed he was easily knocked off the ball and could not track back,when he performed it was very good but he did not perform consistently enough that was also a reason for Boro to get rid,No coincidence that the minute Guus Hiddink took over he was dropped as captain and relegated to the bench for Turkey where he eventually got dropped altogether.It did not work in Germany and he could not hold down a place in a poor Bolton side,so the judgement of him was correct.He did not have a problem with TP and held him in respect and was actually fitter than he had ever been.He stayed on 6 months longer after Pulis persuaded him to stay when there was 2 offers from Germany and Turkey,he eventually went to Germany but they struggled to find the right role for him.All this was info from him and the family which i have posted on here numerous times,but a certain individual still keeps trying to throw Tunny into the equation as part of their attack on the club.AS for GUDJOHNSENN. you are having a laugh,i watched them train,he hardly showed,could not run, was overweight and did not give a toss,did not exactly set the world on fire at Fulham either did he.”
by potterforlife
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 9:00PM
“soccerfoot wont because he will not know who you are talking about!”
by boothernender
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 7:52PM
“Couldn't care less if we play a midfielder in goal if we beat Man City. It's just another case of EVA banging on just for the sake of posting something. These things have always happened, Carl Saunders played everywhere at Stoke, George Berry was a Centre Half who used to move up to attack at times, Big Bren was a Centre Forward who moved to Centre Half. Who cares.”
by potterforlife
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 7:15PM
“Sorry soccerfoot wrong
By your own definition you list seven midfield players NOT the ten you claim we had pre new signings
So thats not ten then! The rest, as you proudly said last season, are WINGERS Just to educate you, they are not midfield players wingers play on the WING.
Not sure what you call it in the states, but in our world (as in yours when it suits you) they are NOT midfielders.
Lesson over? I doubt it because you will believe you know more than everybody else, but no, no insults from me, just corrections - tough luck soccerfoot
To get back to the article, something else you always say others should do, I expect Steven to start from the bench Saturday b ut would be delighted if TP thinks he is good enough to start the game!”