Sun Jihai, who plays with English premier league side Manchester City, said on Saturday that his Chinese national teammate Zheng Zhi has the ability to join the struggling Southampton.

Zheng has been on trial with the Saints in the past week after failing to win hearts of German Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin a week earlier.

"I believe Zheng's ability. I have been playing along with him in the back four in the national team. He has the calibre to play in any top leagues in Europe," said Sun, who joined Kevin Keegan's side in early 2002.

Sun, who will rest for a year after suffering a leg injury early this season, said Zheng, China's first choice central

defender, must come out of the ailing Chinese football league.

Zheng helped Shenzhen win their first-ever Chinese champion last month. But even the Chinese champions don't have enough money and Zheng, together with all teammates, has not been paid wages for several months.

"I hope Zheng can give Southampton a hand to drag them out of the relegation zone," Sun said.

Sun said he is well on the way to recovery and is confident he can make an earlier comeback than expected.

Source: Xinhua