The Spanish playmaker was in sparkling form in the previous round against Oxford before he felt a muscle tighten early in the second period, ending his evening early.
Now, with a glut of games for City on the horizon, he is hoping to get more minutes under his belt as the Blues look to progress to the quarter-finals of a competition the Club has won three times in the last five years.
“I enjoyed the match against Oxford,” said Diaz, “and, if I’m honest, I felt amazing. Obviously I hope to get more chances to play minutes when the opportunities arise.
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“It was a shame to have to come off so early at Oxford, but I felt something in my hamstring – something I’ve never felt before because I’ve been lucky to never have been injured – but it made sense to come off at that point because we were winning and there was no need to take a risk.”
Diaz believes whatever team Fulham name this evening – full strength or otherwise – it will be a hard game.
Like City, any players who turn out for the Cottagers will be looking to impress their manager, asserted the teenager.
He said: “I know I speak for my teammates as well when I say we want to win as many trophies as we can and every competition we’re in, we want to win. Trophies are important for any footballer.
“I feel every team we play and every player who plays against us will want to win the game – that’s how football is.
“They will try and play, and they will try to win but we are at home and we have players who want to play, but it is difficult because we have such a fantastic squad. You will see on the night how hungry we all are.
“I don’t know any of their team personally, but I know Fulham are a very good side with some really good young players – players like Ryan Sessegnon who has great quality and will just keep getting better.
“I think I played against Fulham on one occasion for the EDS and scored a goal, and I think this will be an open, entertaining game.”
