Melbourne Heart skipper Fred has declared himself 100 per cent recovered from a hamstring tear and fit to start in Saturday’s twilight clash with Newcastle Jets at AAMI Park.
Melbourne Heart skipper Fred has declared himself 100 per cent recovered from a hamstring tear and fit to start in Saturday’s twilight clash with Newcastle Jets at AAMI Park.
“It’s much better now and I’m ready to go,” said Fred with a smile ahead of training at La Trobe University on Tuesday morning.
“I am ready to play. I think I can play 90 minutes.”
The 32-year-old was injured during the warm-up to the club’s Week 2 fixture against Perth Glory.
After a fortnight in rehab he returned to action against Adelaide United last Friday night, coming on as a substitute in the 54th minute.
Fred said he was reluctant to start against the Reds because of hamstring issues he experienced last season with MLS side, DC United.
“I am a little bit still scared because it’s a new injury,” he said.
“I had it two times at DC in different spots, but I knew what I have to do and that’s why I recover faster this time.”
“This week I will be much better to play a full game.”
Asked how he coped during his spell on the sidelines, Fred said: “It’s very frustrating.”
“I can’t watch a full game, it’s tough.”
Fred said he was confident the Heart could achieve a breakthrough win on Saturday to atone for their 3-2 opening-round loss to the Jets who scored what proved to be the match-winner from a nasty deflection in the fourth minute of extra time.
“Always you have to be confident, even though we didn’t won a game yet,” he said.
“We are a good team and we need some luck now.”
“We have been winning games and at the last minute they have a chance and score a goal, so we have to be alert and concentrate.”
