Sun Jihai

China international Sun Jihai is determined to win a new contract with the Premiership side Manchester City.

Sun's current deal runs out next summer, but the versatile 28-year-old would like to extend his stay before eventually returning to his homeland.

He said: "I have been here nearly four years now and a work permit is no problem for me. The only problem I have is that I want to play games. I want to stay at City and I want to stay in the Premier League.

"I am 28-years-old now and hopefully I can stay three or four years more and then I definitely plan to finish my football career back in China."

Sun stepped into a central midfield role against Blackburn because of the absence of Joey Barton and Claudio Reyna, and he put in a decent performance.

He added on the club's website: "I would love to remain with City longer if I can. I like the club a lot, my wife and children are settled here. I know Manchester very well now and I have some good friends around me.

"Hopefully I will be able to stay but to do that I know I have to play well when I get the chance and train hard. After that we will just have to see what happens. Hopefully something will happen in the New Year."

(Agencies)