Honda set for brief role, still on mend
MELBOURNE Victory megastar Keisuke Honda revealed that he was not ready to play 90 minutes, but declared himself ready for a second-half impact role in tomorrow’s epic top-of-the-table clash with Perth Glory.
Honda declared his legs “100 per cent” but his conditioning “80 per cent”, as he prepares for his first minutes since mid-december after recovering from a troublesome hamstring.
Victory coach Kevin Muscat said it would be “unfair” on the team to throw Honda straight in after a seven-week absence, adding that he needs to be treated with caution.
Captain Carl Valeri (hamstring) has been ruled out, with defenders Georg Niedermeier and James Donachie in contention to come in.
Honda said he was ready for the clash, which can bring Victory to within a point of Glory.
“Luckily we got a lot of points, even without me. Usually Kevin and the team would rush me if they didn’t get points, but they did,” he said.
“That gave me time to recover, and I was taking care of myself.
“I was relaxed because I couldn’t do anything (more). I had knee injury in Moscow, couldn’t play for 3-4 months, that was (worse). This is muscle (injury).”
Honda said the Asian Champions League, kicking off within a month, was a target but said the A-league title was as vital.
“Both, everything is important, we have to win every game and want to become champions again,” he said.