Germany striker Lukas Podolski has reiterated his commitment to Bayern Munich and insisted he is ready to knuckle down and fight for his place.
An injury to Luca Toni means Podolski will figure in Tuesday night's friendly against Internazionale as well as the weekend's DFB-Pokal first-round tie with Erfurt.
The 23-year-old has been linked with a move away from the champions all summer after being a bit-part player last season, but he is likely to lead the line with Miroslav Klose in the Bundesliga opener on August 15.
"I want to play and I think I am strong enough to fight for a regular start," he said at training on Monday.
"It cannot continue like last season and it won't do either."
Podolski has hit a rich vein of form during the close season, impressing at Euro 2008 and scoring a hat-trick in a friendly against Urawa Red Diamonds.
The 23-year-old has been linked with a move away from the champions all summer after being a bit-part player last season, but he is likely to lead the line with Miroslav Klose in the Bundesliga opener on August 15.
"I want to play and I think I am strong enough to fight for a regular start," he said at training on Monday.
"It cannot continue like last season and it won't do either."
Podolski has hit a rich vein of form during the close season, impressing at Euro 2008 and scoring a hat-trick in a friendly against Urawa Red Diamonds.
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