Kompany has been absent from the City starting XI this season after requiring surgery on a troublesome toe injury in the summer.

Kompany was regularly anchoring City's midfield last term, but the 23-year-old faces stiff competition in the centre of the park - with Gareth Barry and Nigel De Jong the current preferred options by manager Mark Hughes.

The versatile Belgian, who can also operate at centre-back, would do well to dislodge the defensive duo of Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott, who cost Hughes a combined sum of over £40million to shore up his rearguard.

A place in the Eastlands starting XI looks far removed for Kompany, but the former Anderlecht and Hamburg performer claims he enjoys competing for a starting berth at City.

"I'm looking forward to pushing for a first-team starting place," he told the club's official website.

"The competition doesn't bother me. I'm just as much competition to the others. I hope to be in there in the near future.

"I'm not there yet but I'm on my way. I'm starting to feel like I did when I first joined City last season. I feel like I can maybe reach even better levels than I did then.

"I'm happy, but I'm realistic as well. I know I need to be able to perform well consistently."

Kompany is nearing full fitness after completing the entirety of Monday's 1-1 reserve team draw with Blackburn as he continues his rehabilitation from toe surgery in the summer.

And the 23-year-old added: "I finally got 90 minutes to run around and make some tackles and I really enjoyed it. I made a lot of good, strong challenges, which is a big part of my game.

"That was the important thing for me, recovering the ball and keeping possession for the team - I had a lot of positive moments and I think I reached a decent level of performance."

Kompany could join fellow long-term casualties Michael Johnson and Robinho in the City squad for the Eastlands clash against lowly Hull City, but winger Martin Petrov is expected to miss out with a knee injury.