Carl Valeri delighted to be back in Melbourne Victory selection frame

Carl Valeri delighted to be back in Melbourne Victory selection frame

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Melbourne Victory skipper Carl Valeri has opened up about his long journey back to full fitness, expressing his joy at a forthcoming return to the pitch after it was confirmed the hard-nosed midfielder will be part of the regaining champions’ travelling squad to New Zealand.

Felled by a mystery brain inflammation that left the Socceroo struggling to walk at times, Valeri had been ruled out of the current season entirely, with little hope given for a surprise return to the Victory’s selection picture.

However, Valeri’s condition has improved dramatically, and the captain will travel across the Tasman as part of Victory’s squad to tackle Wellington Phoenix as they look to sure up a finals berth.

Valeri says it was merely months ago when his football future was entirely up in the air, but his spell on the sidelines helped him rediscover his love for playing and being surrounded by team mates that he says were integral in his return.

“A few months ago, we didn’t know what was going to happen. To be back in and among the boys… it’s a great feeling and I realised how much I missed it (playing) and how much it puts me in a positive mood off the park,” Valeri said.

“When it (the condition) was at its worst, I struggled to walk.

“It’s a great bunch of guys and I thank them so much for their support, they’ve been fantastic through the whole process. When they warmed up in the (Valeri #21) shirts before the (Christmas Melbourne) Derby, I wasn’t expecting that. I don’t get rattled very easily but that rattled me.


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“There’s always a chance of a relapse, that’s with anything. I’m very well looked after. The medical staff here have been outstanding, the one-on-one work I did with the physios was incredible.

“I’m going to be monitored, I’m fit and healthy. With the training these guys do, you can’t be a little bit off, you’ve got to be 100% on and I feel great, I haven’t had any symptoms.

“Musky (Kevin Muscat) told me whatever happens happens, there was no pressure on me and look where I am. I’m on the verge of coming back in a season I didn’t think I’d play again.”

Victory travel to the New Zealand capital on Friday needing as little as a draw to make certain a finals position, and, having struggled without Valeri, there may be some temptation to immediately install him to the starting XI.

Yet Valeri was remaining realistic about his chances of starting, saying it would be “ambitious” to play a full 90 minutes or even start the match.

“It’s a bit ambitious (to start in Wellington). At the end of the day I’ve been off for three months, but I’m part of the group travelling to Wellington, I don’t know what part I’ll play. I’m willing to do whatever it takes and bring whatever I can to the team.

“It’d be great to win back-to-back championships. I think the club deserves it, but we’ve got to prove that on the football pitch and be more consistent, but that wasn’t what drove me to be back. It was purely being healthy and being fit, it wasn’t about proving a point to anyone, it was just a natural progression.

“If anyone’s going to do it (win the league from sixth), this team can do it.”

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