Sol Bamba is raring to be handed his Leeds United debut this coming Saturday against Huddersfield Town.
The powerful centre-back has landed at Elland Road on loan for the rest of the season from Italian Serie A outfit Palermo. The loan agreement contains an option for Leeds to make his switch permanent should he impress.
Bamba did not play consistently for Palermo this term and admits that he may need time to get his match fitness up to speed.
However, the Ivorian is relishing the opportunity to be involved against Huddersfield at the weekend in a game he well knows is a Yorkshire derby, though he concedes the decision is down to boss Neil Redfearn.
Bamba told the club's site: "Hopefully [I’ll make my debut against Huddersfield], depending on the manager’s decision. It’s a Yorkshire derby and a big game.
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"Everyone wants to play in big games so if the manager wants me, I’ll be ready.
"I think I still need some match fitness but I’m not far off.
"If the manager wanted me to play the whole 90 minutes I believe I would be okay."
Bamba faces a fight to secure a regular spot in the heart of the Whites defence, with Jason Pearce, Giuseppe Bellusci, Scott Wootton, Liam Cooper and Dario Del Fabro also having designs on playing.
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