The Dutch international was in the starting line-up for Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Southampton, with fellow central midfielder Cheick Tiote still searching for match practice.
However, the difference is that (although Tiote is the better player) Anita WANTS to play for the club ... Tiote has made it known for a year that he is desperate to move on.
Vurnon Anita: “I felt a pain in my back and when I tried to stand up the pain was so bad I couldn’t walk.
“I tried to put pressure on my left leg when I stood up but I couldn’t.
“I’ve had a lot of ice on it so we’ll see how it feels after a little bit of time. Hopefully, I won’t need a scan or anything like that.
“It was great to get the nod to start the first game.
“There’s a lot of competition in central midfield now but hopefully that will only be good for all of us.
“We need that to keep each other sharp and hopefully the team will benefit from having so many good players in the same position.
“Each player knows they will have to be doing their best because if they’re not there’s always going to be someone else to come in.
“This is my third season now and I feel like I’m settled here as a Premier League player,.
“The first year was a little bit difficult in terms of settling in but I feel like I’m here now and much more comfortable with the pace of the English game.
“You have to go into each season feeling as though the position is your own.
“That’s the only way to be confident about yourself and it’s the only way you’re going to be able to go out on to the pitch and play your own game.
“I think it helps the manager has experience of Dutch football and has a style fairly similar to what I would be used to in Holland.
“The way he sets his team up is fairly similar to a lot of Dutch sides and the role I am playing now is the most similar to the one I used to play in at Ajax.
“Hopefully, that will mean I can fit in more easily than maybe before.”