xtratime Logo

[caption id="attachment_24167" align="alignnone" width="580"] Postiga still recovering from his injury. File Pic[/caption]

Kolkata: Atletico de Kolkata’s marquee footballer Helder Postiga is in double minds about returning back to action in Indian Super League (ISL) Season 3. The rib injury that he sustained in the match against Kerala Blasters is yet to recover fully.

“I feel much better now. I have started training with teammates. There is still some pain in my ribs. You must give time to recover. I hope to be fit to play after one week,” said Postiga to reporters in Kolkata.

The Portugese striker further added that his coach Molina will take a call on him after seeing him practice with the team.

“This injury is not so serious like last year. The coach will decide when I will play. I have started training with my team mates for last couple of days. It is better to wait till you are 100 percent fit.”

Postiga raised doubts about his availability in the ISL 3 as he sustained a rib injury in their second match against Kerala Blasters. The injury kept him out of the playing eleven in the last couple of matches. The Portugese footballer was forced to miss the entire ISL 2 as he failed to recover after his injury in the opening match against Chennaiyin FC at Salt Lake Stadium.

Insisting that this injury was less serious, Postiga said: "This injury has no comparison to last season's. It was hard last year and the worst injury of my career.

"Injuries happen in football, second time for me in India. It's bad luck. There's little pain in my rib now but it's normal in football. I feel much much better," he said when asked about the status of his rib injury.

Both ATK and Delhi are unbeaten from four matches as their fixture may decide the fate of the two teams but Postiga said it's about maintaining continuity.

"This league is short. If we win two three games, you go on to top. Most important is continuity. I hope we will qualify for playoffs."

The Portuguese further congratulated Bengaluru FC to become the first Indian club to make the AFC Cup final with their 3-1 victory against defending champions Johor Darul Ta'zim yesterday.

"I saw the first 30 minutes of the match. It's a great news for Indian football something that shows that the sport is improving in India."