AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Anthony Robinson is still not at his best after returning to the U.S. national team after an 11-month hiatus.
28 year old left back, Robinson underwent surgery on his right knee on May 27th.Two days after Fulham’s final Premier League match.
“I’m still not back to 100% like I was a year ago, like before the injury first happened, but I’m slowly getting there,” he said Wednesday, two days before the U.S. team’s friendly against Ecuador. “There were no specific conversations about how many minutes we would play on this trip.”
In preparation for next year’s World Cup, the United States will also face Australia on Tuesday in Commerce City, Colorado.
Robinson has four goals in 50 international games and has started all four games for the United States at the 2022 World Cup.
He started 35 of Fulham’s 38 Premier League games last season, but was limited to three substitute appearances in the Cottage’s first seven league games this season. He scored a goal in the League Cup against Cambridge United on 23 September.
Robinson said the injury occurred last October when the U.S. played friendlies against Panama and Mexico.
“Basically, above the knee, in the quadriceps tendon, my leg got stuck, and the tendon tore a little bit, and the bleeding caused calcification and things like that, and I developed mild tendinopathy in my knee,” he said.
“The rest of the season was pretty painful, probably after November, so I was just trying to manage my load and be able to play games and stuff,” he added. “Then, after seeing various specialists and surgeons, it was decided that unless I had surgery to scrape away the calcification in the tendon and clean the area, I probably wouldn’t be able to heal the other side.”
Robinson’s recovery took 11 to 12 weeks before he was able to resume serious training.
“I’m doing everything I can on and off the field to stay fit and get back to shape,” Robinson said. “Obviously, those in charge know that I’m still not 100% myself, but even if I am, they still see me as a useful tool at some point.”
Fulham manager Marco Silva has started Ryan Sessegnon at left-back.
Robinson said: “Seth is doing very well, so even if he returns to full fitness it will be difficult for him to regain his place in the team. So I have to raise my level as much as possible and be ready to be called upon when needed.”
___
AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
