Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland admits manager Mark Hughes' summer recruitment drive has increased the pressure on existing members of the squad.
England midfielder Gareth Barry and striker Roque Santa Cruz have already moved to Eastlands and others are set to follow.
City are expected to win the race to sign former United forward Carlos Tevez and Hughes has not given up hope of luring Samuel Eto'o from Barcelona.
It all adds up to City starting next season away at Blackburn on August 15 in a stronger position than they finished the last campaign - and despite Ireland being the club's player of the year, finishing second-highest scorer with 13 goals, he is taking nothing for granted.
"What has happened this summer is really exciting and the squad is going to be a lot stronger, that is for sure," said the 22-year-old Irishman.
"Players are going to have to be flexible and that is great. There will be a big fight to get into that first team of the season and that is my immediate aim. Then it will be to play so well that the manager can never think of leaving me out."
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i agree with what your saying yannick we had no problems scoring goals, i still agree with what he's doing though the bar has been raised we now have to finish 6th this year so i think santa cruz and teves are essential to that, and i totally agree with the defense if you can call it that but dont forget the transfer window only opened yesterday plenty of time to get a couple of big centre halves in, going to be an exiting season this year cant wait
i think Mark Hughes has gone in the transfer market with the wrong idea. last season his team didnt have too much trouble scoring, but had trouble in the defense. And for some reason he wants to add alot of attacking players to his repertoire, despite all the troubles his defense had last season. Barry was a great buy and im sure he will get along great with Kompany and Ireland; he'll stabilize the midfield and will provide alot to the strikers and to stephen ireland who likes to go forward. RSC had a rough last season and bringing in Barry might help him with the goal scoring. But what Hughes shoulda done, is get a couple of good fullbacks.
legend is our superman
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