After spending a frustrating four months on the sidelines, Central Coast Mariners utility Shane Huke is finally back and available for selection for this Sunday’s Round 10 Hyundai A-League clash against North Queensland Fury.
Coincidently, Huke last appeared in the yellow and navy against Sunday’s opponent, in a pre-season trial match at Rockhampton’s Jardine Park back in June.
Since then, the former Dagenham and Redbridge and Peterborough United man has undergone an intense rehabilitation period to repair a tendon injury in his left knee and after impressing at training, feels he’s ready for a return to competitive action.
“It’s been a while, since May I’ve been out, but I feel good now, and hopefully I’ll get back into it,” Huke said.
“I’m still getting there, still working on it and there are still a few things I need to do to strengthen up my legs, but it’s getting there.”
Originally signed for the Central Coast’s inaugural Asian Champions League campaign, Huke impressed enough to earn himself a contract for version five of the Hyundai A-League, only to be frustratingly cut down early in pre-season preparations.
“Especially getting a long term injury, it’s always a bad thing, but I’m glad if it was going to happen, at least it was at the start of the season where I could get it seen to throughout pre-season, instead of say, November or December.”
“It’s obviously different from training to playing the game, and you’ve also got nerves and things which play a part, but yeah hopefully (I’ll play) because the only way I’m going to get (match) fit is to get a few minutes under my belt, so we’ll see how we go,” said Huke.
With Michael McGlinchey and John Hutchinson both on international duty and missing Sunday’s clash, it gives Huke a great chance to be back in the reckoning with Lawrie McKinna being forced into a reshuffle of his midfield.
“There’s two spots available and everyone is fighting for those two spots, so we’ll see how I go,” Huke said.
