My Injury Has Made Me Stronger – Osaze

Nigerian striker, Osaze Odemwingie has expressed his displeasure over his recent long term stint in the sidelines.

Osaze has been injured since last August after suffering a serious knee ligament injury in City’s 1-0 win over the Premier League champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium and he resumed training with Stoke squad on yesterday.

“It has been tough but the medical staff have been brilliant and helped me enormously,” he told Stoke City website.

“Hearing the fans sing my song and looking forward to seeing me playing again is brilliant; that feeling that somebody is waiting for you is fantastic.”

“It’s been just over six months now but these injuries can be nine months, so I’m really happy that I’m back training.

“I played a few small-sided games last week and Tuesday, and tomorrow I’ll be back in the fold and hopefully I’ll be ready as soon as possible.”

Odemwingie said that the clubhas helped him a lot on his road back to recovery and also thanks the fans.

He added: “A few months ago I couldn’t walk properly, I struggled to get my knee fully extended.

“Not being able to walk slowly in the park with your family and kids to playing with top professionals is a big jump for me and I’m really looking forward to it. That’s what I’ve done for the past 12 years of my life, I got used to it and it was hard to adjust.

“But I’ve got two little kids at home and I’m at a place where I’ve really been looked after well and people want to see to me so those things made the journey back to full fitness a bit easier.”

The manager Mark Hughes added: “Peter has worked extremely hard with our medical staff and is now in a position to join in with the group. It’s fantastic to see him looking so well.”
Odemwingie was expected to miss the whole season at the initial prognosis of the injury but has made a suprise come back and could play this season.