Thomas returns for PSV, Singh for Champs League
All Whites star Ryan Thomas has made his long-awaited debut for Dutch Premier League giants PSV Eindhoven after a year on the sidelines following knee surgery.
The 24-year-old midfielder from Te Puke made his bow in a friendly yesterday (NZ time) against German Bundesliga club FC Koln.
Thomas – a star in Holland since scoring two goals in the 2014 Dutch Cup final as a teenager – suffered cruciate ligament damage in a training session during his first week in Eindhoven in August, 2018.
He had surgery and then had a gruelling rehabilitation programme after missing all of last season.
Thomas admitted to a Dutch newspaper last month that his year-long battle to regain fitness left him depressed and frustrated.
The Kiwi, who has 18 All Whites caps, resumed training with PSV’s first team in the offseason, but was not ready for the first four games of the new Eredivisie season.
Thomas started, however, against Koln.
He played the first 30 minutes before being replaced.
He got a handshake and a pat on the head from PSV head coach Mark van Bommel after the substitution.
Thomas joined PSV – winners of 24 Dutch titles – on a three-year deal in 2018 after five years with Eredivisie rivals PEC Zwolle, who he helped win the Dutch Cup against Ajax in 2014.
His stated goal is to play in the Champions League, but he will have to wait for another season – PSV were knocked out in the qualifying stages by Swiss club Basel in July. They are still involved in the Europa League second tier competition, however.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Sarpreet Singh could make his Champions League debut for Bayern Munich as early as this season.
Although he is yet to play a competitive match for Bayern’s first team, the 20-year-old was included in their 28-man squad for the Champions League, joining stars such as Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer and new signing Philippe Coutinho.
Bayern have been drawn in Group B alongside Olympiacos, Red Star Belgrade and Tottenham Hotspur.