Monday Dec 10 2007 13:22
Fabrice Muamba is hoping Johan Djourou will remain at Birmingham City until the end of the season.
Defender Djourou's initial loan spell from Arsenal is due to expire in the new year.
However Muamba, who played alongside Djourou in the Arsenal youth ranks before signing himself for the Blues in the summer, is optimistic his former team-mate will remain at St Andrew's.
"Johan is a good player and I've got so much respect for the guy. I've known him since about 15 when I was a schoolboy at Arsenal," he said.
"He just seems to get better and better. He has been applying himself well for Birmingham and I am sure the gaffer will be trying his best to keep him here - and we hope he stays.
"We are good friends, but he has got to do what is best for him. The last time we had a conversation about it his mind was not sure what to do.
"But I'm sure when you have had a taste of regular football in the Premier League, you don't want to go back to playing one week and not playing the next."
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