Romaric glad of competition

Christian Romaric insists the competition for places at Sevilla will bring out the best in him this season.

The midfielder, who signed from Le Mans last year for 8million Euros, is close to returning to first-team action having spent the last month out with a knee injury.

In the 27-year-old's absence Ivory Coast team-mate Didier Zokora has made the midfield position his own following his move from Tottenham in the summer, but that does not deter Romaric.

The former Asec Mimosas youngster cannot wait to return to full fitness and begin staking a claim for a regular place.

"I am back in training but I need to be honest. I still have some minor pains but it will be fine very soon," he told the club's official website .

Power

"Physically I need to push on, I know Zokora, we came from the same academy, Zokora is a very good player with power, he is very good for a team balance.

"I know it will be tough for me to play but I love competition, it brings the best out of me, the best between us will play."

However Romaric insists he can play alongside Zokora as they do in the Ivory Coast national team.

"Anyway we can play together, in the national team I play with him, so for me it is to get back to my physical best."

a.top_betting_link_1 {background-image: url('/Images/skysports/fixturecal/icons/fix-bet.gif');background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:0% 50%;padding-left:18px;}Sevilla 7/5, Athletic Bilbao 7/4, Draw 2/1

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