Australia NewsSarkies On Road To Recovery |
ADELAIDE United midfielder Kristian Sarkies is confident of returning to full fitness to feature in the Reds' AFC Champions League campaign.
Sarkies, 21, arrived as one of Adelaide's new signings in 2007 and made 11 appearances in an interrupted A-League season, as he fulfilled his Olympic qualifying commitments with the Australia Under-23 side.They reached the Olympic Games in Beijing, but Sarkies was then diagnosed with a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) in his arm at the end of December.
The dead-ball specialist is now raring to return to action but admits he will not be ready for the AFC Champions League opener against Korean champions Pohang Steelers on March 12.
He is also unlikely to feature in the meeting with Chinese Super League Champions Changchun Yatai a week later, but is hopeful of being in contention for the back-to-back double header against Vietnam champions Binh Duong in April.
Sarkies told the club's official website: "It is coming along very well. When I first got it, it was around about 10 centimetres and I had a scan the other day and it is reduced to about two centimetres which is really positive.
"I just keep having my regular blood tests and hopefully I will be back on the field by the end of March. The doctor told me it was about a one in 10 chance to get it so it was pretty unlucky.
"It has obviously been disappointing not being able to run around with the boys and join in training sessions, because of the blood thinning tablets that I am on, but I guess it is better to have it in my arm than in my leg.
"I am actually doing individual training at the moment with the strength and conditioning coach. I am working closely with the medical staff but hopefully I will join in with the lads in mid to late March."
Copyright (c) 2008 Press Association
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