Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry admits he ignored the press over his fitness chances.

The midfielder revealed his ankle - injured when playing for Manchester City against Tottenham in early May - is fully recovered.

Barry said: "I hadn't spoken to anybody from the management staff here.

"Reports you read in the paper, you never know how true they are. In some quarters they were writing me off as though they knew more than I did. I was nervous waiting for a phone call.

"Eventually Franco Baldini (general manager) called me and wanted to hear from me how I felt and if I really felt I had a good chance.

"Probably even if I didn't, I'd have still told him I did.

"I tried to be up front and tell him how it was and at that stage I was confident.

"It was a really tough few weeks sitting at home every day, and I couldn't do much. Eventually I was happy to make it."