feature: Vince Lia on road back from injury

By Teo Pellizzeri

 

From the peak of his powers, to missing the whole A-League season with a knee reconstruction. That was Vince Lia's 2008.

It's been five months since the only North Eastern Soccer League graduate currently in the nation's elite competition ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

For someone who hasn't had a kick since July he looks the picture of fitness, save for the surgical scars of his knee reconstruction.

Lia was back in Shepparton for the Christmas period, calm, relaxed, taking it easy.

There's a good reason for that, the 23-year-old signed a two-year contract with his A-League club Wellington Phoenix before the injury, he has time on his side to get fit and back on the field.

And that side of things is coming along nicely.

``I'm ahead of schedule which is a good thing. Three weeks to a month ahead,'' Lia said.

``We've got only four games to go and potentially the finals if we make it.

``But I'm not going to put my hand up. If I'm back in time I'll give myself an extra six weeks and April we'll start pre-season again.

``It'll be eight months, that should give me enough time.''

Lia has been doing weight training since the surgery, rebuilding the muscle around his leg and doing exercises to regain his balance.

``The hamstring on my left leg is pretty much non-existent,'' he said. ``They took my hamstring to repair my ligament.

``It's definitely the worst injury I've had, but knowing that I'm not going to play and my time to come back is April it's a little bit easier to take.

``It's not as frustrating as last season where I was injured, but every week I was a chance of playing and I got put back another week, another week.''

Lia's brother-in-law Marc Bullen, a former AFL player with Essendon, set him up with Bombers' club doctor Bruce Reid.

``Bruce Reid got me in touch with a good surgeon in Melbourne, within a week I was in surgery,'' he said.

``The first four games of the (A-League) season I was here, watching games on the couch.

``When you're at training and you sit there, at games and you wait around, being away from it all was all right but when I got back (to Wellington) it was a bit hard.''

Phoenix and New Zealand national team coach Ricki Herbert had been a massive rap for Lia in pre-season prior to his injury, saying the defender was one of the team's hardest workers on the training track.

Lia agreed he had felt as strong as he had ever been in pre-season prior to the jump and awkward landing in a practise match against Central Coast that had caused the injury.

``There's quite a few of the boys, I didn't realise how many, had done the same injury as me,'' Lia said.

``Some had done both knees, to see what they're doing now, stronger than ever, gives me confidence I can come back.

``Me and Ricki we get along really well. I've spoken to him quite a few times since I've been back and he's always asking how long? How's your knee? To see that he's still interested is always a plus.

``I've got all the pre-season and the cup games to prove that I'm worthy of a starting spot.''

Lia feels comfortable in his new home across the Tasman.

A good bond between a lot of the Australian players in the Wellington team has kept spirits high through his season of not playing.

``There's about nine or 10 Aussies in the team and it's good competition at training, the Aussies versus the Kiwis,'' he said.

Despite the bonding, there's not a hint of New Zealander in Lia's voice.

``You only pick up the accent if you want to, it's not a good one to pick up,'' he said.

``It's good to come back (to Shepparton) and enjoy the sun, see my family and friends, get a home-cooked meal.''

Lia's comeback will be 12 months in the making, but the calmness and confidence he exerts suggests it'll be worth the wait.