Break gives Jonny time for recovery
With the World Cup Qualifiers postponed till June due to the coronavirus pandemic, injured national midfielder Masuk Mia Jonny is hoping he would be fit in time to represent the country after recovering from an injury he sustained in September last year.
The Bashundhara Kings midfielder travelled with the national team to Tajikistan for a World Cup Qualifier against Afghanistan on September 10 but did not feature in the match after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), subsequently being ruled out of the qualifiers as well as domestic competitions.
Later he underwent a surgery on September 23, leaving himself with at least nine months out even though he now expects to be fit before that time.
The 22-year-old started doing gym from mid-January under Bashundhara Kings' physio Abu Sufian and Spanish trainer Javier Sanchez Flores. He is expected to start training with the ball in mid-April as he already starting jogging on Tuesday.
"It will be clear whether I will be fit or not after another month and then I will be able to say how long I would need to get match-fit. I think it may take another two months," Jonny told the Daily Star over phone from the club camp in Bashundhara residential area even though the club yesterday released all players for a week following postponement of Bangladesh Premier League.
"The players will get injured and we have to accept it as part of football. However, I feel bad for not being able to play for the national team and the club in the last six months. Now I'm hopeful of playing for the national team and club, which has given me tremendous support throughout the rehabilitation process," said Jonny.
Jonny's teammate centre-back Tapu Barman faced the same situation, but Tapu returned to action in seven months and now he is representing his club and the national team. The return of Tapu is inspiring Jonny to make an early comeback.
"Tapu bhai started playing after seven months even though he initially needed nine to ten months to get fit for competitive matches. As teammates Tapu, (Atiqur Rahman) Fahad, Mustaq underwent same surgeries, they gave me valuable tips," Jonny said about his recovery process.
National team coach Jamie Day keeps regular communication with Jonny as the midfielder is a key member of his team and has played each game since the British coach took charge in May 2018.
"I don't know when the next international games will be, so it is difficult to say what his condition will be at that time," Day said yesterday. "Jonny has done well for me and the national team, so it will improve the squad when he is fit and provide competition for places."
Jonny believes the postponement of World Cup Qualifiers came as a blessing for him as he will now get more time to get fit.
"The postponement of the qualifiers gave me an opportunity to represent the country again as I am hopeful of getting fit within the next two months and play a few matches for the national team and my club," said Jonny.