Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 7y

Fabian Delph not thinking about leaving Man City amid transfer links

Fabian Delph says he has not given any thought to leaving Manchester City in the transfer window and wants to stay and fight for a place in the team.

The midfielder has started just one game this season after a serious groin injury ruled him out for four months.

It has seen him linked with moves to former clubs Aston Villa and Leeds United as well as Championship leaders Newcastle United in the January transfer window, but the 27-year-old says he has not considered quitting the Etihad.

"A couple of mates have said to me: 'You've been linked with X, Y and Z,' but I've not given it any thought. I'm happy here," Delph told reporters.

"I feel like I can help my teammates and I'm obviously fit again so I can get some more minutes and help the team to push on.

"I'm here and I love it here. I'm working with the best players in the world, great management, great staff around me and I'm very, very happy here.

"I want to try to help my teammates push forward. I'm fit so hopefully I'll get some more minutes -- basically I'm happy here."

Delph's time at City has been severely interrupted by injury following his controversial £8 million move from Villa in July 2015.

He has made just eight Premier League starts, while his only appearance in the starting lineup under Pep Guardiola so far came in the Champions League qualifier against Steaua Bucharest on Aug. 24.

Renowned Spanish surgeon Ramon Cugat operated on Delph earlier in the season after problems with tendons in his groin, and the England international is now hoping that he has put his injury problems behind him.

"It's been a bit of a rollercoaster ride since I've been here, I've not managed to get going," Delph said. "But I'm over my injuries now and I feel really good so I'm ready to try to help out my teammates.

"What I had is tight tendons in my groins and we tried to rehab it for six or seven weeks and it wasn't working, I kept getting little tears in my tendons. So then I went to have an operation with Dr Cugat.

"It's been about nine or 10 weeks since then and its been a bit of a nightmare for me. I've been very frustrated."

Delph came off the bench in the 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday and was also used as a substitute in the 5-0 FA Cup victory over West Ham on Jan 6.

City face Crystal Palace in the fourth round on Saturday and Delph says he is ready if Guardiola calls on him for the Selhurst Park clash.

"I've been injured for the best part of four-and-a-half months -- I seem to be the forgotten man at the minute," he added. "I'm fit again and available for selection.

"I got a bit of time in the West Ham game, I was on the bench against Everton and got some game time [against Spurs]. I'm happy, progressing and working very hard so I'll continue to do that.

"Whenever I'm needed, whenever I'm called upon, I'll be raring to go to give 100 percent like I do every day so hopefully I'll get that chance and I'll keep working hard."

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