A groin injury is threatening to spoil Spase Dilevski’s plans of featuring in the Reds’ season opener against Perth Glory on Sunday.
A groin injury is threatening to spoil Spase Dilevski-s plans of featuring in the Reds- season opener against Perth Glory on Sunday.
Fighting fit after a full pre season, a seemingly innocuous incident in the warm up of the trial against Melbourne Victory saw Dilevski forced to withdraw from the match just a fortnight out from the start of the season.
Scans revealed a groin strain and the talented midfielder is now racing to recover in time to be considered for the Reds- trip west.
“Everything was fine, I was feeling 100 per cent and then I shot one diagonal ball and then just felt a little pop and it went,” Dilevski recalls of how the injury occurred.
“I knew straight away. I tried to jog on it but I knew straight away that I was gone, so it was very disappointing that I couldn-t play because it was only five minutes before the game.”
Four days later, the former Tottenham Hotspurs youth player shaped a disconsolate figure on the sidelines as he watched his team mates train.
But as dejected as Dilevski is with the timing of the setback, he has not given up hope of making a full recovery in time for the season opener.
“I have done the whole pre season, been here since day one back at the start of May working hard, getting fit and had no serious problems, now when it counts something like this happens and you have to take a few steps back, but hopefully it-s not too long,” Dilevski said.
“I went and had scans and they (the club medicos) are predicting two to three weeks but if it heals quickly and I have a good recovery I could be a possibility for the game against Perth, so that-s my goal now.”
In an encouraging sign, the 26 year old who last featured in the Hyundai A-League back in the 2006/07 season with Brisbane Roar, was running and swerving in a modified training program over the weekend. It may seem a long shot for him to get back in time, but if his determination to make a hasty recovery is anything to go by, you would not rule him out yet.
The Reds will face Perth Glory at nib Stadium in Perth on Sunday 9 October 2011. Kick-Off is at 7.00pm ACDT and the match can be seen LIVE on Fox Sports
