Granada vs Rayo Vallecano preview - Amaya relishing Rayo return

Posted Thursday, October 16, 2014 by PA

Antonio Amaya is anxious to make his Primera Division debut for Rayo Vallecano against Granada after returning to his boyhood club from Real Betis in the summer.

A thigh injury has left him sidelined for the past fortnight, but the 31-year-old former Wigan centre-back hopes to start in his first top-flight match for Rayo, whom he played for in the Spanish Segunda Division until he left in 2009.

"I've been training with the team for the last week with plenty of enthusiasm and I'm very keen to make my debut this Friday, hopefully," Amaya told rayovallecano.es.

"If it's not this Friday, then the following weekend, but the manager knows he can count on me whenever he wants.

"I've played for Rayo Vallecano at every level, apart from the Primera, so I'm anxious for this moment to arrive. I think I'll have a chance, I've been training at the same pace for the last couple of weeks, so I'm more than ready to play.

"I started out at this club when I was eight or nine years old and the dream of any kid is to reach the Primera at the club where you start out. I'm sure it's going to be a reality soon enough."

Rayo are currently 12th in the standings, level on points with 13th-placed Granada.

Amaya knows Rayo face a tricky test against Joaquin Caparros' side.

"We know that teams managed by Caparros are always hard-working and make things difficult," he added.

"We just have to play our own game. We've been working on aspects where we think we can hurt them the most and I think we can get a positive result. We'll be going there to win and take home the three points."

Granada have lost their last three games, but striker Piti knows what to expect from Rayo and is refusing to panic.

"Rayo are a very attacking team that like to have the ball," the 33-year-old told granadacf.es.

"They are not going to let us breathe and will pressure as high as possible."