Defender Rhyan Grant is getting close to a return with Sydney FC, with the fullback a chance to make a comeback before the Hyundai A-League Finals Series.
Grant, who scored the equaliser in last season’s grand final against Melbourne Victory, hasn’t featured this season due to a recovery from an ACL injury suffered in the pre-season.
The 27-year-old has been back in full training with the Sky Blues squad for the last month and has set his sights on getting back on the pitch before the end of the campaign.
In an interview with www.sydneyfc.com, Grant said he won’t return before he gets to the nine-month rehab mark but hopes he can help the team out as they push for back-to-back Championships.
“It’s a couple of weeks off before I hit that nine-month mark so within the next couple of weeks if all goes to plan I should be back,” Grant said,
“I don’t expect to walk straight back into the team or to even feature but it’s one of my goals to just be in contention by the end of the season, you never know what could happen from there.
“Arnie [Coach Graham Arnold] mentioned I could return for the game against Adelaide at Allianz [in Round 26] so we’ll wait and see.”
This is the second serious knee injury Grant has endured in his career but says the recovery from this one has been far smoother.
“The last one I thought I felt good coming out of it, but compared to what I am now I’m way ahead,” he said.
“The last one I was out for about 14 months, so be on the verge of getting back in and playing within the next couple of weeks, I’m pretty happy with that.”
“I’ve started to do a few extras after training with more intensity stuff, and getting that more intense running and changing direction in my legs,” Grant added.
“It’s just making sure the intensity is there, so the last couple of weeks I’ve been doing extra with the physios and Clarky [Andrew Clark] to make sure I’m ticking all the right boxes.”
Sydney FC tackle Perth Glory at nib Stadium on Thursday night.
