Socceroo winger Tommy Oar says his knee injury is on the mend and he is confident of getting back on the field with FC Utrecht and the national team as soon as possible.
Oar played all three games at the recent World Cup but his tournament ended in pain when he injured his knee in a collision with Spanish defender Sergio Ramos.
After a brief holiday with family on the Gold Coast, the 22-year-old is now back in Holland and continuing with his rehabilitation.
Speaking with the FC Utrecht website, Oar said the problem is progressing well.
“I'm already a few weeks into run and working in the weight of my muscle mass,” the former Brisbane Roar FC flyer said.
“Every day I can do a little more. I'm driven to be on the field as soon as possible again, but I'm not rushing.
“I haven’t had a lot of injuries but I can handle it well. If you're a professional footballer, you know that there is a chance that you will get injured.
“To be able to do my recovery during my break is a bonus as I don’t want to miss any league games.”
Oar, who has 18 caps for the Socceroos, is desperate to be ready for the new season as he gears up for the AFC Asian Cup in Australia in January.
The Socceroos’ next game is against Belgium in a friendly in early September. Oar may be fit for that clash as the road to the Asian Cup continues.
The pacey left-winger spoke about his World Cup experience, reflecting on the highs and lows of the Socceroos’ performances in Brazil.
“It was exciting because it is obviously the biggest tournament in the world but we were unhappy because we played some good matches, but didn’t have any points to show for it,” Oar said.
“But I was proud because it is a great honour and achievement is to be allowed to play for your country in a World Cup.”