Newcastle United signing Sylvain Marveaux insists he is up to the physical challenge of the Premier League.
The 25-year-old French midfielder signed from Rennes on a free transfer last week and is relishing the task ahead of him - despite seeing friend and new team-mate Hatem Ben Arfa suffer a broken leg in his first season in English football.
Marveaux said: "I speak some English so that will help me with my team-mates and living in the city. I've been warned the English league is faster and more physical, but it does not worry me. I'm athletic and I'm looking forward to playing that style of football.
"There will be a bit of adjustment needed, but I've got a full pre-season to prepare for the start of the league and I will make sure I work hard in that time to be in the best possible shape.
"I know what happened to Hatem, but I'm not scared about being kicked either. I'm ready for that. Every European league is hard, I will not be intimidated, I will be prepared for everything."
