And winger is excited by prospect of linking back up with Anelka
SCOTT Sinclair hopes Sunday’s game against his former club Swansea (ko 1.30pm) brings an end to his year of bad luck.
The winger suffered a blood clot in his shoulder and needed a rib removing in May – having already found first-team opportunities difficult to come by at Manchester City last season.
Sinclair moved to the Etihad Stadium in a deal reported to be worth more than £6million after impressing for the Swans a year earlier – netting their first-ever Barclays Premier League goal in a 3-0 victory over the Baggies at the Liberty Stadium.
And, with his health worries firmly behind him, the 24-year-old, who made 15 appearances in all competitions for City last term, is now looking forward to making a top-flight impact at The Hawthorns.
“I really hope I can settle in and have a good start from Sunday onwards,” said Sinclair, who played all 90 minutes of Albion’s 3-0 Capital One Cup win over Newport County AFC on Tuesday.
“I want to score goals, create chances and help Albion to win games.
“Hopefully, now I can kick-start my career.
“It hasn’t been a good year up to this point but hopefully now I can get my career back on track.
“I’m getting my match fitness back.
“I played the full 90 minutes against Newport on Tuesday night.
“I also played 90 minutes for Man City during pre-season.
“I’m looking to build on that match fitness, enjoy my football, and play every week.
“I haven’t much over the last year so I’m hungry to play.
“It’s nice to work hard in training and get something out of that hard work come the weekend.
“Hopefully, I will start off well and get the fans going.”
The Bath-born player is excited by the prospect of again playing with former Chelsea team-mate Nicolas Anelka – after the 34-year-old yesterday returned to training following compassionate leave.
“It’s great that Nico is here,” added Sinclair.
“It’s great that he’s back in training.
“Hopefully he will be ready for the weekend.
“He’s a quality player.
“I know him previously from my time at Chelsea and I know how he plays and vice-versa.
“Hopefully we will work well together.”
Sinclair will face the Swans for the first time since leaving South Wales and he admits he will always have a place in his heart for them
He scored 22 Championship goals - including a play-off final hat-trick - as the club returned to the top flight two years ago.
He scored 22 Championship goals - including a play-off final hat-trick - as the club returned to the top flight two years ago.
“It’s exciting to be playing Swansea," he said.
“I haven’t played against them since I left.
“I’ll always love the club and I’ll always love the fans down there.
“I had some amazing times down there – getting promoted and scoring a fair few goals at the Liberty.
“I have some great memories from my time there.
“It felt like home.
“I still speak to Nathan Dyer and a few of the other boys.
“I hear there have been some massive changes since I left.”