After having one of the toughest off-seasons in his career, defender Patrick Ziegler is ready to make his comeback.
Ziegler returned to Germany in the off-season to spend two months in intense rehab, working on his return to football after a torn meniscus.
The defender suffered from the injury during the Wanderers FFA Cup campaign last year and struggled to make a complete return after the setback.
“It was in the quarter-final of the FFA Cup against Melbourne City,” said Ziegler on the injury.
“It was the 17th minute so I was waiting for a long ball and I got a little push, bit of a step and I thought it’s okay, it’s okay.
“I played the last 20 minutes of the match and then we found out my meniscus was torn.”
Ziegler then spent majority of last season on the sidelines, something he admits he really struggled with.
“To be honest it was terrible, it was terrible to be in the stands,” said Ziegler.
“If you’re a football player you want to play, you want to win and if the team doesn’t win and you’re in the stands it’s terrible.
“It’s the most terrible thing and I learned a lot to be patient.
“To be patient because maybe I wanted too much, too early and with this injury I had to be patient. I’ve learnt a lot from this.”
Ziegler has now returned to training with the team and is looking forward to making his comeback at the Red & Black’s new fortress.
“(Bankwest Stadium) is a huge step, it’s a proper football stadium alike in Europe and for the crowd it’s amazing,” said Ziegler.
“They have a home now, don’t have to go to Olympic Stadium and that’s big for them and big for us.
“In this league, everything is possible you know? You could win everything, you could lose everything.
“But for me as a player, I want to win everything. If I play football, I want to win and if it’s possible win every game.
“It’s the start of hopefully a big season.”
