City keeper has Wright motives

Manchester City goalkeeper Richard Wright insists he did not join the club simply to ‘hang around’ but to compete for a first-team spot.

Despite this, the 34-year-old is also keen to help England international Joe Hart both on and off the field, as the former Arsenal shot-stopper sees himself as a good role model at City.

And Wright believes he has made the right decision in joining the current Premier League champions, having settled in well since his arrival.

“There needs to be competition all the time. Obviously Joe’s a fantastic goalkeeper and if I can help him then great, but I’ll be working hard as well,” he told the club’s official website.

“I’m not just here to hang around, I want to work hard and improve myself as well.

“I think when you work with a group of goalkeepers, you work together and obviously I’ve been through a lot – dealing with the mental side of things as well, which is important.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with Joe and getting to know everyone. It’s a magnificent set-up here and I’m really pleased to be involved in it and play a part in the club’s success, hopefully.”

The former England international is pleased with his decision to join City and insists he did not rush the move despite it happening so quickly.

“It all happened very quickly, just a couple of weeks just before I came over here I was asked would I be interested,” he added.

“I had a call on the Friday to ask if I could come in and train from the Monday to Wednesday and that was it, I signed on the Thursday.

“It was a quick turnaround, but one that I’m really pleased with.

“There’s a great bunch of lads here, everyone looks out for each other, it’s a really, really welcoming football club.”

Wright is also confident his spell will not be as short as his tenure at his previous club, having left Preston after one week due to homesickness after signing in July.

“The whole family’s come up now. It was a very tough decision before I went to Preston as it wasn’t feasible at that stage to bring the family, but with a chance to come to a club like City, I want my family to enjoy the adventure and the excitement that goes around this football club at the moment,” he said.

“We’re all up here together and the kids are just settling into schools and stuff like that and we’re all really pleased.”