Sandaza ready for United action

06 March 2010 11:52
The Spaniard has completed a full week of training after a 10-month lay off following a double hernia operation and will be included in Peter Houston's squad for Sunday's SPL game with Hearts.[LNB]While Sandaza is not yet ready to start, he could be a potent weapon from the bench as United look to consolidate the position in the Europa League spots.[LNB]Former Valencia B player Sandaza was the Taysiders' top scorer last season and turned in some impressive displays on the big occasion, so having him back available is a major boost to their European hopes.[LNB]The 25-year-old admitted his protracted rehabilitation was a "nightmare", but now hopes to end the campaign on a high.[LNB]He said: "I have trained all week and feel really good so I'm ready to play if the manager needs me.[LNB]"It has been so long coming and I have to admit that the days out injured were hard.[LNB]"It was a nightmare.[LNB]"It affected my mentality, I was very down and I wasn't enjoying things.[LNB]"But this week I feel like a footballer again - everything is positive.[LNB]"What has happened throughout the last year has been a learning experience.[LNB]"Before, I took training every day and playing for granted. Now I appreciate it and realise how important it is to my life.[LNB]"I hope being out for so long will make me stronger."[LNB]Sandaza was hit by a number of setbacks along the way but a visit to Spanish physio Pedro Chuecha a fortnight ago got him firmly on the comeback trail.[LNB]The Real Madrid doctor spotted scar tissue in his groin wounds so worked to eradicate it through a series of painful massages.[LNB]Sandaza has revealed the procedure almost reduced him to tears but insists it was worth it.[LNB]He said: "I went to see Pedro Chuecha at Real Madrid two weeks ago.[LNB]"It is very expensive but it was worth it.[LNB]"I had scars in my muscle so they caused me pain when I was running.[LNB]"But he does a deep massage which gets rid of them. When he did it, the pain was bad, I was almost crying but it has worked."[LNB]Like Sandaza, Hearts striker Calum Elliot is working his way back to full fitness following an injury-blighted season.[LNB]The 22-year-old had knee surgery in August and is now a month into his second comeback after an aborted attempt in November.[LNB]He has seen Jambos team-mate Lee Wallace break into the Scotland team in that time and, while he has international ambitions of his own, he is looking no further ahead than getting a run of games for his club.[LNB]"My main aspirations are trying to get fit and go over my injury because it's been kind of tough to get over it," he said.[LNB]"The main thing for me at the moment is trying to keep my place in the Hearts team and help the team do well and obviously chip in with more goals."[LNB][LNB][LNB] Dundee Utd v Hearts. Click here to bet.  

Source: Team_Talk