Injury hit 22-year-content to fight for his place at the Etihad.
Manchester City midfielder Jack Rodwell says he is happy to wait for his opportunity to impress manager Manuel Pellegrini.
Rodwell has yet to feature under the Chilean, having been an unused substitute in two of City’s three Premier League games so far this season.
The 22-year-old endured an injury-hit first campaign at the Etihad Stadium following his transfer from Everton in August 2012, but after a full pre-season is feeling back to his best.
Rodwell could feature in Saturday’s match against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium and is keen to make an impact if he gets his chance.
“I’ve been training hard and I’m feeling great,” Rodwell said. “But I’ll just have to be patient and wait for my chance, which I’m sure will come along soon.
“With the players we’ve got at this club, you have to expect to miss some games, and even if I get a run of games and play really well, I’d still expect to be rested from time to time because you can’t expect every player to play every minute.
“Over the next four weeks we have eight games to play and I’m sure the manager will be using everyone at some point.”
Manchester City’s midfield department is lighter after Gareth Barry’s recent move to Everton on a season-long loan, but Rodwell does not believe that will make any difference to his first-team prospects.
“I don’t think Gareth moving on will have any immediate effect,” Rodwell said.
“He wasn’t involved in our opening matches, but there are a lot of games to play and as the season goes on and the squad rotation kicks in, I’m sure I’ll see plenty of minutes.”
Rodwell believes Stoke will prove a tough prospect under former Manchester City manager Mark Hughes, even though the Welshman has tried to make them a more attractive team to watch.
He added: “Under Mark Hughes they may not play in the same style or be quite as physical as they have been in the past, but I think we’ll still have to be at our best to come away with a result.
“It’s a tough place to go and as Cardiff proved against us (by winning 3-2), every away game in the Premier league is going to be a challenge because everyone wants to beat City these days.”
Pellegrini will check on the fitness of midfield playmaker David Silva after he missed Spain’s international friendly against Chile with a thigh injury.
Defender Micah Richards should be available again after a hamstring injury, but captain Vincent Kompany (groin) is not expected back before next month and new signing Martin Demichelis (knee) is also unavailable.
Stoke are hoping an international suspension for Geoff Cameron will work in their favour after the United States international returned to the club four days earlier than expected.
The utility player was booked while playing for his country against Costa Rica on Friday, missing a match with Mexico as a result.
“There were times last season when I would get back from international games on a Thursday and grab a taxi to get straight into training,” Cameron said.
“Luckily, the adrenaline and anticipation would get you through a match for Stoke because it is a big game whoever you are playing and you just have to deal with it.
“Towards the end of last season I was fatigued, mentally and physically, because I’d played three-quarters of the MLS season, then a whole Premier League season and travelled to play for America, and then there were five internationals to play at the end of the season.
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