Now fully fit, Alvaro Negredo is hoping to score the goals that help Manchester City to a second Premier League title in three years – and also secure himself a place in Spain’s World Cup squad.
The striker has made a favourable impression in his first season at the Etihad after signing from Sevilla in the summer.
Initially he struggled to get game time but once selected the 28-year-old formed a lethal strike partnership with Sergio Aguero, scoring 23 goals before a shoulder injury hampered his progress.
Negredo has now gone 14 games without finding the back of the net but is confident he can make an impact for both club and country in the weeks and months to come.
“I was playing games when I wasn’t fully fit – but things have turned around now and I am fit again,” he told the club’s official website.
“I am not featuring as regularly as before, but I turned it around earlier in the season so I have got to have the same mentality to turn things around once again.
“I did that by working hard on the training field and scoring goals when I got my chance. Hopefully that’s what will happen again.”
Negredo is also hoping that a strong finish to the domestic season, in the three games that remain, will prove enough to get the nod from Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque.
He said: “It’s my dream to be involved in the World Cup – it would be great and is something I am fighting for.
“Not playing regularly here means the manager has not seen much of me – but I won’t give up. Quite the contrary – I am full of optimism.”
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