After what seems life a lifetime, Terry Antonis is ready and raring to get back into training after recovering from injury.
The 20-year-old midfielder has been out of action for over five months and has lost an international signing opportunity in the process.
After a phenomenal season for Sydney FC, the midfielder had signed on to play for Italian side Parma, but when the club failed to pay the first installment of the signing fee to Sydney FC, the deal was off.
Now, back in training for a week, the player is keen to repay the Sky Blues for their patience and hopes to restart his career in 2014.
“Being away from the group is the hardest part when you have a long-term injury but now I am back among the boys again, it’s a good feeling,” he told SBS’s Dave Lewis.
“It’s been a tough last few months with the move to Italy not happening and injury, but the big positive has been being welcomed back at Sydney.”
Despite being keen to start playing again, Antonis isn’t going to risk complicating his injury if he’s not ready.
“With an injury like this you have to do the rehab right and make sure you don’t get the same injury again and give yourself long-term problems in your career.
“Most of the pain has gone now, there’s the odd twinge but it’s heaps better and much stronger now.”
With Sydney FC showing promise of late in the A-League and with a squad that is gelling quite well, it will be a hard task for Antonis to prove himself worthy
of a first team position. Antonis says that difficulty should never be seen as a negative.
“That’s the way you want it, players battling for places because it shows the team is going well,” he said.
“I have always said that we can win the league this year and I definitely believe it can happen.”
Source: SBS Worldgame
