Sigthorsson out to hit back

Kolbeinn Sigthorsson is raring to get Ajax's Eredivisie title defence under way against Roda JC tomorrow. Last season the Amsterdam giants won their 32nd national title, finishing the campaign seven points ahead of nearest rivals PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord. Sigthorsson plundered just seven goals during the campaign, but would have undoubtedly got more had he not have missed half the campaign following a shoulder operation. The Icelandic international also got injured in his first season after joining from AZ Alkmaar in 2011 and is now targeting an injury-free campaign. "I am fit and sharp," Sigthorsson told the club's official website, www.ajax.nl. "I got through the summer very well. In May I was extremely upset that the season was over - I had just started to get back into the rhythm. It was a compulsory leave, I suppose, but I did keep up the training during my holiday. "During the preparation for the season with Ajax, so far everything has gone exactly as I had hoped. To remain fit, that is my number one goal this year. If I play many matches and get back into a rhythm, I hope the goals will come naturally this season. "That is why focusing on remaining fit is even more important. Of course I want to get better each year. There is always room for improvement somewhere. I work hard on that every day. With (coach) Frank de Boer I work on tactics, with (assistant coach) Dennis Bergkamp I work on technique." Sigthorsson will likely be playing alongside Viktor Fischer and Bojan Krkic in tomorrow's season opener. The latter joined Ajax this summer on a season-long loan from Barcelona and will be hoping to get his career on track after a frustrating few years. "We have to get a feel for each other's running patterns, have to know when the other person wants the ball," Sigthorsson said of the new arrival. "It always takes time, but I have a good feeling about it. Bojan is a player who is sensitive to others. I feel the connection." Last year's runners-up PSV kick off their campaign at ADO Den Haag on Saturday, before NEC Nijmegen face FC Groningen, FC Twente welcome RKC Waalwijk and AZ travel to Heerenveen. On Sunday, Eerste Divisie champions Cambuur begin life back in the top flight for the first time in 13 years at home to NAC Breda. Utrecht take on Go Ahead Eagles, Vitesse Arnhem play Heracles and Feyenoord head to Zwolle in Sunday's other fixtures. Source: fifa.com