Matt O’Riley says he will be fully prepared for his Premier League debut – after staying positive during his injury lay-off.

The summer signing from Celtic hopes to be involved when champions Manchester City head to the Amex on Saturday.

His debut in the Carabao Cup tie with Crawley was cut short by an ankle injury requiring surgery.

But he has been praised by head coach Fabian Huerzeler for his attitude since then.

O’Riley said: “Your outlook affects everything.

“When I go home, I try to be as positive as possible and as good of a person as I can with my girlfriend or my mum and dad.

“If I’m able to do that then it transfers back when I’m at the training ground and I think it’s a good habit to get into.

“It’s very different from the last four years because I haven’t been playing, so that has been a big change, but I have been able to settle in while seeing how the team plays, the structure of the team and the whole environment at the training ground.

“I can see where my role might be in the team so that when I come back into the team I will be prepared. Those are the positives.”

(Image: PA)

O’Riley is aware staff at the club have worked hard to get him to the brink of his Prem bow.

He added: “Being back in training with the team on the pitch now makes it easier to settle in.

“I feel good and it’s nice to touch footballs again.

“It has gone pretty quickly, to be fair. I’ve been in a good place considering.

“It has taken quite a lot of work as well, and not just by me, which is something I’m very conscious of.

“I’m very hopeful that I’ll be in the squad this weekend.

“I’ve been outside for over three weeks now.

“Fitness-wise I could still improve but I feel good. Why not though?

“These are the games you want to play in, so why not?”