City move excites Bianchi

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The 24-year-old, who finished fourth top-scorer in Serie A last season with 18 goals, will miss Saturday afternoon's friendly at Doncaster, however, he is set to be a part of Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad for next week's short tour of Sweden.

And Bianchi is thirsting to get involved in the action, saying: "It is going to be a demanding challenge. It is a new style to me but I think I will adapt very soon. I have always been good at heading the ball but I have become stronger and fitter over the last few years as well and feel I am a more complete player now."

He added: "I am looking forward to this new adventure and I want to play as soon as possible."

The arrival of a player seemingly capable of addressing City's woeful scoring return has intensified the optimism at Eastlands ahead of the new campaign.

Not even the Thai government's decision to freeze an additional £8million-worth of new owner Thaksin Shinawatra's assets, taking the overall total to a staggering £1.23billion, has cast a shadow over City.

Sources close to Thaksin insist the latest move from the Bangkok authorities will have no impact on his involvement with the Blues, with money for the takeover safely lodged in London, where it has been cleared by the financial authorities.

His investment will be seen in public for the first time at the Keepmoat Stadium as City begin a pre-season programme which will conclude against Valencia on August 4 ahead of their Premier League bow at West Ham a week later.

Eriksson knows he has plenty of work still to do but the Swede is looking forward to what will be his first appearance in a managerial dug-out since England were dumped out of the World Cup by Portugal in Gelsenkirchen just over 12 months ago.

"It is a beginning for me - and I am really looking forward to it," he said. "We are not ready to start the Premier League yet but while practice is one thing, you only really learn about players in games."