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THE Sun is rising over Manchester City's Eastlands Stadium.

After looking as though he faced a bleak future with the Blues, China's top footballing export Jihai Sun is ready to cement his place in Kevin Keegan's plans.

A switch in formation to a 4-4-2 system has vaulted the versatile 25-year-old international back into the limelight as an orthodox right back.

It is a position he is still fully coming to grips with but, at present, he is ahead of Richard Dunne for a place in the Premiership curtain raiser at Charlton.

Sun, who became the first ever Chinese player to score in the English top flight when he found the net at Birmingham City last October, played 25 times last season but could do no better than the bench in the last seven, fuelling the belief that he might struggle to find a spot this term.

Forefront

However, he has been a permanent fixture during the pre-season games and boss Keegan admits that the player is very much at the forefront of his thinking.

"There is nothing written in stone but Jihai is definitely in pole position at the moment in the right-back slot," said the manager.

"He has improved each game and done nothing wrong.

"Having said that, the players on the fringe of things are all very close and there is still a chance for one or two of them to change my mind before the season starts.

"I have been very happy with most of the players."

While Sun continues to shine, one of the Blues' foreign contingent continues to edge closer to going.

Despite having one near 1m offer turned away for central defender Lucien Mettomo a fortnight ago, Wolves, as exclusively revealed in M.E.N. Sport, are proving persistent suitors and are ready to renew their interest in the 26-year-old Cameroon World Cup star.

They hope to team him with another new man, Jody Craddock, at the heart of their defence, with ex-Bury star and City fan Paul Butler expected to be the man to make way if the deal goes through.

Mettomo played 20 games in his first season for the Blues, but only three last term, and despite a bold showing for his country in the Confederations Cup in France, has not made an impact in pre-season.

Ironically, Mettomo will be one of the players pencilled to take part in a memorial match on November 11 in memory of his great friend, Marc Vivien Foe. It is envisaged that the game will take place between Cameroon and a team made up of players from Foe's former clubs Lens, Lyon and City.

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