Capped 22 times by England, Vassell has described his arrival at Eastlands as “a dream come true” and a chance to start afresh, and his new manager is angreement, seeing that desire to succeed as just one reason why he made a bid for him.
“He’s got pace, which we’re short of up front,” explains Pearce. “He’s got hunger, he’s been at one football club all his career, and without meaning to sound disrespectful to Aston Villa he got a little bit overlooked.
“He’d gone a little bit stale at Villa and I think at the age of 25 this move could really rekindle him. He’s got a World Cup next summer, if he does well for us he knows in his own mind he could be back in that World Cup squad.
“That will bode well for Manchester City and I just feel that he’s got the pace, he’s still only 25 and I think he’s got something to prove.”
Although having only just turned 25, Darius has been a Premiership player ever since his debut nearly seven years ago, and his new manager has first-hand experience of the the striker’s outstanding pace having played aginst him a couple of times towards the end of his own playing career.
“You always had to respect his pace, you knew that once he got the wrong side of you that you were not seeing him again!
“He worked hard, was brave and he put his foot in. I don’t think you can intimidate him, physically, which I always liked in a player. Boys like Darius and Andrew Cole will stand their corner and that’s what I want in my squad.”
The manager will give Darius his first chance to shine for City in Saturday’s friendly at Stoke City, and he is looking forward to working with a player who although proven at the highest level, is one that he feels has even better days ahead of him in City’s colours.
“I think he’s got more time to improve, that’s my job and my coaches job to do that, and we have to unlock that little thing inside him that’s going to inspire him.”
