Philippe Clement has confirmed that new signing Anthony Musaba is ready for action when called upon, ahead of his side’s early kick-off against Millwall on Saturday, August 22.
The winger joined City on Wednesday from Turkish Süper Lig side Fenerbahçe and is available to face the Lions if needed on Saturday.
On the signing, Clement said: “It’s been a long time since we were together last, four years in football, and also the difference between being a 21-year-old to being a 25-year old.
“He's a different person now, a different player also.
“I looked at his footage from Fenerbahçe, from Samsunspor; from Sheffield Wednesday. I saw a lot of things back from what I saw at Monaco, but a better version.
“He's somebody with speed; somebody with action, one against one action. He’s somebody who's strong with both feet.
“He can play on the left, he can play on the right, he can score goals with left and right or give assists. So that's for sure an added value.
“He's a really down to earth; realistic person also. He was not ready at the time in Monaco to be a starting 11 player there. But he showed really good things in training and also in all his behaviours in the dressing room, in the way he worked, in the way he trained.
“So those were positives and then we had to talk with him like we do with every player because I want to dive really deep into the person side also to keep a really good dressing room here.
“He is ready for selection. He did a full pre-season in Turkey, although in the last weeks the intensity went down when they decided to bring other players in and to put him out on loan.
“So in the beginning of pre-season in July he played several games. In August, the intensity slowed down, so we have some work to do there, but he's ready to play minutes if it's necessary tomorrow.”
The Belgian expects a slower end to the transfer window.
“It's the idea not to have incomings anymore. And also not to let go other players who can be a regular starting 11 players, let's say it like that.
Fellow Summer signing Darlin Yongwa is ready to come into the matchday squad, whilst Ante Crnac, who has been sidelined with a long-term injury, is nearing a return also.
“Darlin is ready if it's necessary to take minutes. Ante not yet, but he's improving every week. So it's about having a good program for him and the right moments to give him game time, competitive game time.
“We had the internal games that are competitive, but in a different way. He did well, so that's the next step to take. But We need to be cautious with him also. He's been 10 months out.
“Darlin didn’t have a pre-season, of course, so he's not at his best physical level yet. But he improves every week with the work we're doing. We're doing extra work with him.
“He's already ready for these game minutes. For Ante, he's a little bit too soon, but I expect it in not too far ahead that he will take minutes.”
Forward Jovon Makama remains out but is nearing his return to action. Whilst everyone who featured against West Brom on the opening day is available to make the trip to London.
Alex Neil’s side finished third in the Championship, just one point behind the automatic promotion spots.
When asked if his side can take inspiration from parachute payment-less Millwall, Clement said: “I don't think it's a good thing to have inspiration about what others are doing.
“You need to do it yourself and in your own way also.
“We have a lot of respect for what Millwall and the manager did last season. They were one point away of promotion.
“We know it's going to be a really tough game. They have a lot of quality, they have a clear way of playing, they have a manager with a lot of experience in the Championship. He done a really good job there.
“He was also really nice person after the game, so I have a lot of respect for him.
“We will have a really, really tough battle for the three points, but like always, we're going to go full for the three points and go in our own way.”