One of Adelaide United’s grand final heroes says he’s ready to return to Hyundai A-League action after 13 weeks of full training with the Reds.
Defender Michael Marrone hasn’t featured this season as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in the Hyundai A-League 2015/16 Season grand final triumph over Western Sydney Wanderers.
Hyundai A-League stats preview Round 12
Reds ready for Sky Blues Boxing Day bout
It’s been a long road to recovery for the 29-year-old, who has found it hard watching the side struggle for results.
But after a solid couple of months of training and a few games with Adelaide’s youth team, all Marrone wants for Christmas as a return against the unbeaten Sky Blues.
“The progress has been good. I’ve been back running for to four or five months now,” Marrone told the Adelaide Advertiser.
Click here for the Adelaide Advertiser
“This week has been my 13th week involved with the group in full training.
“I’ve been back training for a long time and I’m in the same boat as everyone else. From week to week I’m not too sure if they’ll pick me, but I’m ready to go.”
Adelaide remain rooted to the bottom of the Hyundai A-League ladder with just one win, three draws and seven losses from the opening 11 games.
While it’s a difficult predicament for the defending champions, Marrone feels results don’t reflect how the side has been performing.
As he puts it, it’s just “the little things” which has prevented them sitting much higher up the table.
“We’ve had a couple of games where the other teams score in injury time and we’ve missed out on points,” Marrone said.
“It’s been extremely frustrating to watch and I can’t even imagine how the boys who are playing, how they feel.
“I know fans are frustrated and when you’re a player it’s frustrating to be in this position.
“I’m a player on the outside of the group at the moment and not playing, so for me it’s ridiculously frustrating. I find it very hard to watch the games.”
The Reds have lost just one of their last 11 games against Sydney FC, with the side’s playing out a goalless draw at Allianz Stadium last month.
