Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson was feeling positive after making a 45-minute appearance in Saturday's pre-season friendly defeat to the Orlando Pirates. He told City's official website: "I feel pretty well, and I'm glad to get it under my belt.

"It's more fitness work which I needed, but I felt good afterwards and I'm just looking to get stronger now.

"I would have liked a bit longer in my heart of hearts, but 45 minutes was fine and playing was all I wanted to do.

"I just wanted to play myself into the game, I started slowly but I gradually got into it a lot more.

"I keep getting stronger every time I train and play and I just want to keep working at it.

"For the rest of the tour I just want to keep playing as much as I can, keep training and get fitter, that's what it's all about at this time of the year."