Gabby Zakuani: New attitude leads to Peterborough recall

Peterborough United defender Gabby Zakuani believes a change of attitude has brought about his return to the first team.

The 26-year-old played for the first time since early November in Saturday's 3-2 defeat by Middlesbrough.

He told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "The manager is probably sick of me always knocking on his door, asking why I'm not playing.

"I've stayed behind more in training and I've been dying to play."

He continued: "I've just got on with it and I think he's seen a change in attitude over the last few weeks."

Zakuani was one of four Posh players punished by boss Darren Ferguson for going out in Peterborough city centre last month - the others, Tyrone Barnett, Emile Sinclair and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, have all since left the club on loan.

He was initially transfer-listed and fined but the sanctions were reversed following the involvement of the Professional Footballers' Association.

But, after being included in a starting line-up for the first time in four weeks, he was unable to halt an eight-game Championship winless run against Boro.

"As we know a lot of stuff has happened that's maybe not football related. That's not helped," said the former Fulham centre-half.

"I just want to be putting my body on the line and when you're not being selected it is very frustrating and when we're not on the best run it's even more frustrating.

"But everyone knows my passion for this football club and what I do for the club."

And despite having been overlooked by Ferguson for the past month, Zakuani insists his relationship with the two-time Posh boss is still strong.

"I know he's the best thing to happen to this club. When he left we all saw how things went pear-shaped," he added.

"I think he knows me deep down and what sort of person I am, that I'm a good guy, and I know everything about him."