New City hardman likes to go on attack

HARD- TACKLING Melbourne City marquee signing and Premier League champion Ritchie De Laet has promised to be an attacking presence in the A-League.

The 29-year-old Aston Villa right back, who arrived in Melbourne this week, trained with City yesterday as preparations ramp up towards Wednesday night’s FFA Cup quarter-final and the A-League season kickoff next month.

City announced the seasonlong loan for De Laet’s services yesterday.

“I like to support the attack as many times as I can during a game,” the speedster said.

“I enjoy that part of the game, going forward, but I don’t forget first and foremost I’m a hard-tackling defender.

“Every chance I’ve got to go forward, I will take, but if it’s time to dig in and defend, I’ll do that as well.”

De Laet is hungry to make up for lost time after having the past two Premier League campaigns wrecked by a serious knee injury.

In 2016, his third game at Villa, having moved from Leicester City via loan to Middlesbrough, the Belgian international ruptured the anterior and lateral collateral ligaments in his knee and did the hamstring.

“If you’re going to do it, might as well do it right,” De Laet said.

“You see the (Villa) boys go out training, and go out for games, while you’re inside the gym or in the pool.

“It hurt and made me realise I missed the game . . . it makes me more hungry to go back out there and play.

“I’m a footballer and I want to play games. Melbourne has given me this opportunity to come out here and play football.”

City coach Warren Joyce was instrumental bringing De Laet to Melbourne, having mentored him at Royal Antwerp in 2007 and then Manchester United two years later.

“I wanted something completely new but obviously Warren had a big part to play in that as well,” De Laet said.

“I know what to expect from the gaffer here and he knows what to expect from me as well.”