Defiant Perth Glory defender Chris Coyne has declared he’s not quite ready to hang up the boots despite tearing his Achilles tendon.
Defiant Perth Glory defender Chris Coyne has declared he’s not quite ready to hang up the boots despite tearing his Achilles tendon.
The 32-year-old former Qantas Socceroo injured his Achilles late in the club’s valiant 2-2 draw with Melbourne Victory last Sunday week, re-injuring the same tendon that saw him miss the latter stages of last season and parts of the pre-season.
Since returning to the team in the second week of competition this campaign, Coyne had steadily built up his performances and produced some impressive displays in the club’s 1-0 loss to Sydney and also in the valiant fightback against Victory, where Glory drew the match 2-2 despite being two goals in arrears and down to 10 men.
Deep into that match, Coyne felt a sharp pain in his right Achilles as he attempted kicking the ball, the defender saying there’s now just 30 percent of the tendon still attached, ahead of having surgery next week.
However, Coyne’s quality performances have convinced him he still has something to offer Glory as he targets a return in just three months.
“I’m deeply disappointed but it’s part of the job, you do lose weeks out through injury and I’ve just got to cop it and get on with it,” said Coyne on Tuesday.
“It’s with a pinch of salt, there’s obviously people a lot worse off than I am and it’s just about how I treat the injury now and look after myself.”
“Anything could (end my career),” he added. “It could end training in a training session.”
“So I’m a glass half-full man rather than half-empty so I’m always looking at the positives in life and I believe that with the people I’ve got around me and the surgeon that’s looking after it, I’ve got every opportunity of playing again, hopefully for Perth Glory in the finals this year.”
“(But) being in a plaster cast in 35 degrees and the kids in the pool and I’m sitting there sweating away will be the worst bit.”
Coyne said that if the injury did finish a career, which has seen him play for Luton, Dundee, Colchester and West Ham, he’d still be satisfied with how it all went.
“I’ve ticked a lot of boxes you know,” he said. “I’ve been very fortunate in my career.”
“I’ve had very few injuries, I’ve managed to play at the highest level and I’ve enjoyed every second of it.”
“I won’t have any regrets in the game but I don’t think I’m quite ready to hang ’em up yet.”
“I think I’ve still got a bit to offer and the fact I’ve had no real previous injuries has left my body in good nick.”
“So touch wood and I’d like to be back next year, if not, the end of this year, and give my best again for Perth Glory.”
Coyne’s injury is the latest blow to Perth’s defence ahead of Saturday’s clash with Gold Coast United, as fellow defenders Scott Neville (knee), Steve Pantelidis (heel) and Evan Berger (hamstring) are also injured.
However the side should regain the services of instrumental midfielder Liam Miller, who returns from suspension, along with Mile Sterjovski, who missed last week’s 4-0 loss to Brisbane to be with his heavily pregnant wife.
