Striker Benjani seeks new Manchester City contract
Benjani joined Manchester City in 2008 from Portsmouth
Manchester City striker Benjani is hoping his return to the side can help him earn a new deal at Eastlands.
The 31-year-old, who is a free agent at the end of the season, has found first-team action hard to come by recently.
The arrival of Robinho, Carlos Tevez, Roque Santa Cruz and Emmanuel Adebayor has massively increased the competition for places in City's line-up.
"I have always wanted to see out my career at Manchester City," he told the club's official website.
"I have six months left on my current deal and it would be nice if I could get another year or so."
Benjani suffered a series of injuries during the start of his City career after being signed by Sven-Goran Eriksson for £3.8m in 2008, and eventually fell out of favour with former boss Mark Hughes to such an extent he went a full calendar year making just three senior appearances.
However, with Santa Cruz nursing a knee injury and Adebayor recovering from the trauma of the horrific gun attack on the Togo team bus at the Africa Cup of Nations, new manager Roberto Mancini handed Benjani his chance in the FA Cup at Middlesbrough.
Benjani responded by scoring the winning goal and, after Mancini kept faith with him Monday's Premier League win over Blackburn, he played a pivotal role in three of City's goals during the 4-1 win that has taken the club into the top four.
"As a player you have to keep on believing, even if you know the chances of playing regularly are slim," said Benjani.
"You have to be very professional, do everything right and work very hard. Now I am very happy because I have started two games in a row and it has been a long time since that happened."
That last happened in December 2008 and while Benjani is likely to lose his place in the City side once Adebayor returns and Santa Cruz is fit, he at least has shown he still has an eye for goal that may prove a valuable asset to Mancini in their push for a top four finish.
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