Newcastle right-back Daryl Janmaat has spoken out on his upcoming debut for the Magpies, insisting there should be no concerns over his fitness despite his lack of training.
The 25-year-old Dutchman signed to Newcastle three weeks ago from Erdivisie side Feyenoord.
With the start of the new football season just a fortnight away, the club’s £5m summer acquisition has been subject to scepticism regarding his fitness but believes he is match-ready despite having trained only three times with his new team mates during the pre-season period.
He is hoping to get a run-out against Spanish La Liga side Real Sociedad in the upcoming pre-season clash on Sunday.
“I feel fit but I have trained only three times,” Janmaat told Sky Sports reporters.
“So it’s good to get my minutes now. On Sunday, I can play more.”
Janmaat was brought into the Newcastle set up by manager Alan Pardew to replace departed French defender Mathieu Debuchy, who signed to Arsenal for £12m at the end of July.
Following a turbulent 2013/2014 league run under Pardew, the Englishman’s side are amidst a respectable pre-season run, with five victories, one defeat and one draw under their belt.
Their last pre-season fixture this weekend (Real Sociedad) will precede their debut match of the 2014/2015 the following Sunday, when he Magpies will face Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City champions on 17 August.