Hoops striker: I've got the power

25 February 2009 18:03
Greece striker Samaras simply could not stop scoring at the beginning of the campaign as he racked up 10 goals in his opening 11 games.[LNB]An injury suffered on international duty in October and subsequent cartilage surgery halted his golden run and he has not been the same player since.[LNB]He said: "It was the first time I have had to have an operation and the first time I've had a really bad injury.[LNB]"I thought I'd come back and play the way I'd been playing. But it's not like that. You have to work really hard just to do the simple things, like get the strength back in your leg.[LNB]"You lose all the muscle and you've got to work to get your strength and power back. It's difficult, and I can understand some people maybe can't understand that.[LNB]"You need time to get back and find your rhythm again.[LNB]"But I can say that this past week in training I've found my power again. Mentally, I'm straight and focused on my football, and that's the most important thing."[LNB]Samaras, who completed a permanent move from Manchester City in the summer, has found the net just four times since his November return and is currently on his longest barren run of the season.[LNB]The 24-year-old has failed to find the net in his last eight outings, a loss of form which has coincided with Celtic surrendering a seven-point lead to trail Rangers on goal difference in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.[LNB]Samaras is not the only Hoops striker who has struggled to hit top gear following injury this season, with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink in the same situation.[LNB]"Jan is still getting back to full fitness as well," Samaras told Celtic View.[LNB]"And it's important that people remember that he's missed nearly three months of the season.[LNB]"It's maybe made things difficult for us.[LNB]"I was out for over a month, Jan was out for a long time and, when we were out, Oz (Scott McDonald) had to handle everything, with Cillian (Sheridan) helping him out in a few matches.[LNB]"Shaun Maloney was able to play up front as well, before he got injured and other times we had to play with one striker and that's difficult, not just for the strikers, but for the whole team because the system has to change a little bit.[LNB]"But now we are back to normal and it's exactly the same as it was last year and at the start of the season.[LNB]"We are the three main strikers, competing for two positions and all three of us are good enough to start. Whoever scores the most goals and plays the best will start."[LNB]He added: "We all work well together and I think you can see that when it's me and Scott, Scott and Jan or me and Jan up front."[LNB]Meanwhile, manager Gordon Strachan reckons this season's SPL will be won by an unusually low points total.[LNB]Celtic and Rangers have both suffered surprise results this term, with both having failed to take maximum points in a third of the games they have played.[LNB]"I think the points total will be really low this season," said Strachan, who fears Celtic may live to regret squandering their seven-point lead so quickly.[LNB]"I can remember Sir Alex Ferguson talking about giving titles away after a long, hard season.[LNB]"If that can happen to Manchester United then it can happen to us. I'm not going to say we're going to lose the title, but you have to be aware."[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk