Fully fit Lucas raring to go

Midfielder Lucas Leiva claims he's finally over his injury problems and is not 50% better than he felt last season.

The popular Brazilian was sidelined for nine months with a knee injury sustained in a league cup tie at Chelsea in November 2011, only to then tear a thigh muscle on just his fourth game back in August 2012.  He returned to the side a few months later but understandably failed to reach the high standards he'd been setting prior to his injury woes.

Now though he says he's getting back to his best level ahead of the new season.  He told the club's official website: "I'm feeling 50-60 per cent better than I was last season. The last six months I played were really important for me. I needed to get games and sessions, and this season now I'm feeling strong and feeling that I'm in the shape I was before the injury.

"Now I've got to improve the fitness and build confidence, but I'm really happy with the way pre-season has started."