Newly-signed Perth defender Andy Todd insists he’ll be right to play against Wolverhampton next week, despite admitting his fitness is somewhat behind his Glory team-mates.
Former Blackburn skipper Todd arrived in Perth this week after leaving the United Kingdom, where he most recently played for Derby County in the Coca-Cola Championship, alongside another new Glory player, Qantas Socceroo Mile Sterjovski.
But speaking after his first Glory training session on Friday, Todd said he’d be fit to play against Wolves despite only having a week to prepare.
“I’m behind the boys here so I’m playing catch-up,” Todd said after spending extra time on the track in deep discussion with Glory fitness and conditioning coach Pete Cklamovski.
“I trained yesterday and today and I’m looking to probably build up on Monday.”
“In England, you usually have a game after a week, 10 days. I’ve been doing a little bit of training on my own, so it’ll be okay in a week’s time (for Wolves).”
“I played them towards the end of my career at Derby, got beaten 3-2, so it’ll be a good game for us,” he said.
Todd said his new team-mates had made him feel welcome already, but admitted the time difference was still catching up with him.
“(There’s) no nerves,” he said. “I’m just trying to do as well as I can for the club and hopefully we can move forward.”
“I only landed on Monday so I’m just adjusting to the time difference.”
“But it’s been good. The boys have made me very welcome.”
“I also know Mile and just recently met Jacob,” Todd added, referring to another recent Perth signing, Jacob Burns.
“Both played in England and they’re two good players. Obviously Mile and myself had tough times at Derby so we’re looking to get that bad taste out of our mouth here.”
Glory coach Dave Mitchell said it was exciting watching his squad come together ahead of the fifth Hyundai A-League season, adding the injection of quality players would only spur on the remainder of the squad.
“I think the training and the tempo will be lifting in the next few weeks once all the new players start arriving,” Mitchell said.
“Because when you have good players it’s a knock on effect. Other players want to show to those good players that they’re good players in their own right.”
“So it’s great when you’ve got some players that players respect, that have played at the highest level in the Premier League and Andy’s done that.”
“He’s been the player’s player at Blackburn Rovers as well, so he gets on well with the players and staff. He’s a great find for the club.”
Wolverhampton has also produced some great finds this last week, having recruited striker Kevin Doyle from Reading over the last week. In a big week for transfers at Molineux, manager Mick McCarthy has also secured Andrew Surman from Southampton and Greg Halford from Sunderland.