Pellegrini bullish as City stars commit to future in blue

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is hopeful that more of his squad will commit to long-term contracts in the coming days as the club looks to dominate into the future.

The Premier League champions have enjoyed a remarkable few days with captain Vincent Kompany, playmaker David Silva and star striker Sergio Aguero all signing new five-year deals.

Samir Nasri and Aleksandar Kolarov agreed fresh terms earlier in the summer while, in a further statement of ambition, £32 million (€40m) defender Eliaquim Mangala joined the club on a five-year deal on Monday.

Pellegrini believes all are proof of the positive direction of the club and he is expecting more good news.

The Chilean said: “I think it is very important for the club to retain the best players. This is a club that has a lot of ambition for the future. They understand that.

“Maybe you will know in the next few days about other players who extend their contracts.”

Recent comments from striker Edin Dzeko have suggested that he could be nearing a new deal following positive talks.

Mangala, meanwhile, is not ready to make his debut as City open the defence of their title at Newcastle tomorrow.

The 23-year-old Frenchman has had little time to settle in since arriving from Porto and Pellegrini is keen for him to work more in training.

“Mangala needs to work more with the team to be able to play,” Pellegrini said. “It will not be this weekend.”

A number of other players who did not feature in last week’s Community Shield loss to Arsenal, most notably Vincent Kompany, Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, Fernandinho and Frank Lampard are expected to come into contention.

Aguero, last season’s top scorer despite being hampered by injuries in the second half of the campaign, has also not been completely ruled out.The Argentinian is still to reach full fitness after suffering a groin injury at the World Cup, even though it still seems unlikely he will play at St James’ Park.

Pellegrini said: “We will see on Sunday. I think that this team always needs Sergio Aguero. We are trying to make a mix for him, a mix of pre-season and trying to have a level to play for the team.”

Pellegrini had an excellent first season in England as he won the league and League Cup. Now more comfortable in his surroundings, it could be argued his task will be more straightforward but Pellegrini expects the opposition to raise their challenge.

Meanwhile, Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will embark upon the new season determined to repay owner Mike Ashley for backing him this summer. The 53-year-old will send a much-changed team into battle having made wholesale changes with seven new faces on board and Nottingham Forest duo Karl Darlow and Jamaal Lascelles also secured before being loaned back to the Championship club for the season.

That represents significant support for a manager who ended the last campaign being booed by his own fans having earlier put his job in jeopardy by head-butting Hull midfielder David Meyler.

Pardew said: “When I signed the new contract, Mike always knew there would be ups and downs for both of us. He stood by me and this feels like an up time for me. He’s armed me again, he’s stood by me.”

Dutch midfielder Siem de Jong will miss the City game with a foot injury while midfielder Cheick Tiote is out with a hamstring problem but there could be debuts for Daryl Janmaat, Jack Colback, Remy Cabella, Emmanuel Riviere, Facundo Ferreyra and Ayoze Perez.