RASO’S RETURN:

COAST STAR BACK AFTER FEARING SHE WOULD NEVER WALK AGAIN

MATILDAS star Hayley Raso is winning her physical and emotional battle against the broken back that had her fearing she would never walk again.

The 24-year-old Gold Coast product is poised to make her national team return on Thursday when Australia meets New Zealand in the Cup of Nations in Sydney.

“I’m just so excited to be back here, back with the team, back in this environment … I can’t wait for the games to start,” the Brisbane Roar attacker said.

Her current joy is in stark contrast to her despair and pain when she broke her back last August playing for Portland Thorns in America’s National Women’s Soccer League.

Raso collided with Washington Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe, backing into the custodian in attempting to head a ball.

As she lay on the turf with no feeling in her legs, she feared she had walked for the last time.

Thankfully for Raso, she not only walked again, but was able to resume her playing career with Roar last month, 146 days after suffering her injury.

“Mentally it’s a little bit tough, just because of the severity of what I went through, but the more I keep playing and training, and doing those repetitions over and over, the better I feel,” she said.

“My back gets a little stiff (after matches). It feels different obviously after what I’ve been through, but just getting the treatment on it, and continually training to work those muscles back up, it’s going well.”

Raso said the hardest part of her return had been putting herself in the same situation in which she hurt her back.

“It’s a little bit tough … trying to be confident in those moments when the ball’s in the air and when I’m trying to head the ball back, not knowing what’s around me,” she said. “It’s still tough mentally but once I get out there I’m just trying to play the way I used to.”

Fellow Matilda Emily Gielnik said Raso’s return had been an inspiration for the squad.

“She’s such a great player and she had a really big setback, one of those things that can make or break you as a player,” Gielnik said.

“She’s come back strong and I know she’ll come back even stronger. She’s still getting back on her feet. She’s still got so much more room to grow. I really mean it when I say everyone’s super supportive of her.”