The former France skipper arrived in January with an injury Mancini thought was minor but turned out to be serious enough to restrict him to just nine league and cup appearances as City failed to overcome Tottenham in the battle for a Champions League slot. Yet Mancini still awarded Vieira a new year-long contract extension, convinced the 33-year-old can be a positive influence on his new-look squad. Vieira must improve because now he has to justify his place given he has kept fans favourite Stephen Ireland out of the squad for next week's Europa League qualifier against Timisoara. But the former Arsenal man is confident he is up to the task. "Last season was frustrating for me," he said. "It is never easy when you arrive at a new club and are already injured. "You want to get back as soon as you can but physically you are always behind the other players. "It was quite tough and difficult but I was happy with the way I played in the last few games." And happily, Vieira has come through a tough pre-season schedule without a problem. "I have had no injuries and not missed any training," he said. "Now I have to work really hard, and every time the manager needs me to start or be on the bench I will be ready to give everything." Just looking at the names available for European combat shows the huge number of top quality players now battling for first team slots at Eastlands. Even if Vincent Kompany is now regarded as a central defender, Mancini has four holding midfielders to choose from, including Yaya Toure, who is being paid in excess of £200,000 a week, and Nigel de Jong, who played for Holland in this summer's World Cup final. Against competition like that, Vieira would appear to have a problem on his hands. Yet he insists there is no problem if he is reduced to a bit-part role. "I still have the desire and determination to do well and I strongly believe that if every player gives 100% commitment to the football club it will be an exciting season for us. "I leave picking the team up to the manager. Every day, every single player will try to show the manager that he wants to play and after that he will pick the eleven that start "But if we want to do well in the league and the Europa Cup, and the national cups, it will be all of the 25 players who make a difference. "If every single player understands that this squad will go really far."
