NZogbia fit for Fulham game

Last updated : 09 August 2011 By Team Talk

The French winger has been drafted in by Alex McLeish to help cover the departures of Stewart Downing and Ashley Young.

His creative talents will be vital to the Villa cause this season, with it imperative that Darren Bent is given the kind of service he thrives on.

McLeish is hoping his big-money recruit will be fit to face the Cottagers on the opening day of the new season, but has admitted that he remains some way short of full match sharpness.

N'Zogbia concedes that he has work to do before Villa travel to London on Saturday, but believes a hard week on the training ground will help to fire him into contention for a starting role.

He told the club's official website: "I feel I need to work a bit more on my physical fitness but I have been training every day and I'm fine. I just need to play the games now. I'm feeling good.

"I will be at Bodymoor Heath during the week and I'm going to work hard.

"I will be able to focus now on getting ready for the Fulham game and, like I say, I am looking forward to this.

"I feel fit and it's just a matter of working with my team-mates, learning on the training ground and making it happen in the games.

"We will all work hard again in this coming week to be ready for the first game of the season and we are all looking forward to getting going."

N'Zogbia made the perfect start to his Villa career in a recent friendly against FC Braga, as he notched in a 1-1 draw, and he is hoping to carry the momentum established in that game into the new Premier League campaign.

He added: "For me, personally, it was the perfect start to what I hope will be a fulfilling career at Villa.

"I don't want to waste any time. The season is about to start and I want to contribute right away in my new team.

"I want to get on well with my new team-mates and I want to give 100 per cent in every game."

Source: Team Talk

Source: Team Talk