Woody ready for City

Last updated : 12 November 2003 By Martyn Elliott

The defender played for 79 minutes of the second-string’s 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough and afterwards reported no ill effects.

"The game went all right for me," Woodgate told The Daily Telegraph.

"I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was great to get back playing again after being out for seven weeks but now hopefully I'll be back for the Manchester City game, if selected, and from then just play as many games as I can.

"I've had a bit of a nightmare with injuries this year but hopefully they're all behind me now and they won't prevent me from playing football, which is what I enjoy and love.

"But that's football. You get injuries from time to time and you've just got to get over them.”

With Sven-Goran Eriksson struggling for centre-backs at the minute, Woodgate also has a place in the national squad for Euro 2004 very much in his sights.

He added: "Hopefully I will play as well as I can for Newcastle and then I hope England will follow.

“I've got to aim for Euro 2004 and I'll try my hardest to get there. If I don't make it then I can assure you that it won't be for the lack of trying."