PLAYER PROFILE

Sun Jihai

Position: Defence

Height: 5'10

Weight: 10st 7lbs

Date of Birth: 1977-09-30 Dalian, PR China

Sun Jihai

Jihai Sun joined Manchester City in March 2002 from Dalian Wanda, the Chinese club he joined in his native land after returning from a loan spell with Crystal Palace in London. After a trial at Maine Road, this long-term target for Kevin Keegan agreed to a switch.

Manchester City fans saw very little of Sun after he came in at City as he was mainly used as a substitute in the latter stages of most of the games in which he played. However, City boss Keegan has always maintained that Sun is capable of making it in the Barclaycard Premiership.

Sun's first full season in the top flight promised to test that theory even though Keegan barely managed to make a bad buy for City since joining the club. He played for City seven times and was booked twice, leaving some fans thinking that he would need to learn not to rush in to challenges.

However, after a World Cup campaign where he shone despite China's disastrous results and an ankle injury, he bounded into action with confidence, becoming the first Chinese player ever to score in the Barclaycard Premiership when he headed home the first Manchester City goal in their 2-0 win over Birmingham.

As a raiding wing-back, he showed that he has the ability to play at the highest level, along with Li Tie of Everton, he was a proud ambassador for his country and a sign of its rising profile in the world of football. He will be eager to continue his good progress.

Sun really came into his own in the 2003/04 season, making over 40 appearances for City and scoring 2 goals.

The 2004/05 season was mainly spent as a midfield utility player as Danny Mills claimed his place in the City defensive line.

His season was cut short in an October win against Chelsea - the only time Chelsea were defeated in the Barclays Premiership season. After a tackle from Eidur Gudjohnsen, he injured cruciate and medical ligaments in his left knee.

He played only 7 games, but was back in time for action in 2005/06, where he was a regular, though picked up a red card in the FA Cup defeat to West Ham in March 2006.

More injury troubles followed in the 2006/07 season, but he overcame them to become a frequent starter for Manchester City.