Leicester City striker David Nugent looks sharp and ready to play in the Premier League, says assistant manager Craig Shakespeare.
Nugent notched his third goal of an already impressive pre-season campaign in sumptuous style at Walsall.
Last season's top-scorer curled the ball from the edge of the area with the outside of his right boot into the top corner.
His sublime finish followed a brace at Ilkeston last week as well as finding the net with another stunning effort against Everton, in Thailand, which was ruled out for offside. The 29-year-old has admitted he has a point to prove in the Premier League after a disappointing spell in the top flight earlier in his career.
Shakespeare said he could see the determination in Nugent's body language from the moment the players reported back for pre-season training after the summer break.
"When he came back on the first day of pre-season, he looked ready to play and, by that, I mean he looked sharp, upstairs as well as downstairs, and he has taken that into his football," said Shakespeare.
"I think he feels settled now, with signing his contract, but from me reading his body language he looks like he is enjoying his football and he has looked very, very sharp in his physical stats as well as his football."
The former England international is one of a few members of the City squad already to have Premier League experience.
Nugent had a disappointing spell at Portsmouth, following an £8million move from Preston, but struggled to nail down a starting spot.
He moved to Burnley on loan, where he scored six goals in 30 top-flight appearances for the Clarets.
But since his move to City, Nugent has been the club's leading goalscorer for the past three campaigns, breaking the 20-goal barrier for the first time in his career in last season's romp to the Championship title, as well as leading the way in assists.
City midfielder Dean Hammond is also backing his team-mate to continue that form in the Premier League.
"He had a fantastic season last year and he's carrying it on," said Hammond. "Great striker, Nuge. He's got Premier League experience, wants to prove himself once again in the Premier League and he is going the right way about it."