http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lucas-c22528 Leiva revealed his ambition of making a speedy return to the squad next season, and was optimistic that he will be able to rediscover his best form immediately.
The Brazilian International sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in November during a Carling Cup match against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 at Stamford Bridge. He subsequently underwent a knee surgery, and was ruled out of action for the remainder of the seasson.
In total, he represented the Merseyside outfit in 15 matches in all competitions last time around.
Since his absence from the squad, the Reds experienced a toilsome spell of six months, which saw the plummet down to the eighth spot in the final league standings.
This could be down to the fact, that the 25-year old won the Liverpool Player of the Season accolade during the 2010/11 campaign.
Nevertheless, the midfielder revealed that he had shown significant signs of improvement during the last couple of months, and was confident that he will be able to confirm his availability in the squad before the start of the new campaign.
He told the reporters in an interview, “I think I am progressing very well in terms of the knee, strength and fitness-wise. I am working every week and trying to improve every week and the main target is to be fit for the new season.”
However, Lucas admitted that during the preliminary days after his surgery, he had started to have doubts about his career, as he had never been out of action for so long. He also feared that he might not be able to walk properly again.
He mentioned that as the time elapsed, his body started to recover quickly and he was now looking forward towards making a complete recuperation.
He added, “The most difficult period for me was when I was on crutches for two months, especially the first four weeks after the surgery when the knee was swollen… But as soon as I started the rehab, it is unbelievable how your body reacts.”
He further added that he took heart from the fact that many world class players have suffered serious injuries during their careers, but bounced back strongly on their return.
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