Diks: Zenit clash will be good test for us

F.C. Copenhagen face FC Zenit in a mid-season friendly in Portugal on Thursday – and full-back Kevin Diks believes it will be a test of the Lions' resolve.

FCK are in Portugal preparing for the restart of the Danish Superliga season, which gets back underway later this February.

Jess Thorup's men beat Halmstads BK 2-1 on Sunday – a game in which Diks earned 90 minutes as he continues his comeback from injury.

And the Dutchman believes he is ready for competitive football once again, and says he's not unfamiliar with playing at centre-back as he did versus Halmstads.

"I have played there quite a few times in my career, but it has been a while," says the defender. "It only took the first few minutes to get used to it again.

"I'm totally fit now after having to struggle a bit to get back after the winter break, but now I'm ready and feeling better and better every day.

"We're playing a really strong opponent on Thursday when we meet Zenit, who also have a lot of experience from the Champions League and Europa League, so it will definitely be a good test for us.

"It is also an important match because we have to play to our very best, and it's a really good way to show where we stand before the season kicks off again back home."

Before the transfer window closed, Diks was reunited with Khouma Babacar, with whom he has not only played at Fiorentina, but who is also a really good friend. The pair are able to speak Italian together.

What's more, Diks and Nicolai Boilesen occasionally speak Dutch together, so how many languages ​​does Diks really know?

"I only speak three languages: Dutch, English and Italian, but I gradually understand a lot of Danish and can follow a conversation a bit, even though I don't speak it myself," says Diks.

"I know the most important expressions you use on a football field, but I think the rest is difficult. And when everyone speaks English so well, I stick to it."