It’s nearly time for pre-season to begin at Middlewood Road, with the players returning from their summer holidays on Monday.
Almen Abdi headed to Africa during that period, but has now returned to Europe to complete a pre-pre-season training campaign (this has the potential to get confusing) in his home nation of Switzerland.
After an injury-stricken campaign in his maiden season in Sheffield, the Swiss international has been working on his fitness at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich. Lots of fans were perhaps left underwhelmed by Abdi’s debut season, but could see the class he offered, and the calibre of player he is, at points in the 2016/17 campaign. The £3m man was restricted to just 16 appearances, and one goal, a thunderbolt against Nottingham Forest.
However, during his pre-pre-season, he gave an interview to his representatives, the Fairplay Agency. Regarding his injury, the 30-year-old told FPA: ‘I was sidelined during our push for promotion.’
The midfielder added: ‘Injuries happen, it`s part of a footballer`s life. You need to remain focused and positive. Now let`s take that positivity into the new campaign.’
He made his last appearance of the season against Leeds where the Owls lost 1-0, but it seems Abdi has reacted to the operation well: “I went to a surgeon in London, a specialist for knee injuries. The operation went all smooth, I was able to leave the hospital on the very same day. And within seven to ten days, I was able to walk properly again.”
However, despite these injury troubles, it appears the ex-Udinese and Watford man is excited to prove his point and make his mark on the 2017/18 camapign: ‘My priority is getting back to full fitness and getting a lot of games under my belt. And who knows? Maybe we can finally make that cut to the Premier League.’
You can watch the interview here:
FPA TV caught up with @swfc midfielder @AlmenAbdi during a short pre-preseason exercise week:
Full video: https://t.co/jDahpCNxyQ pic.twitter.com/86vt5wPWLr? FPA Fairplay Agency (@FairplayAgency) 1 July 2017
