Newly-signed Perth defender Andy Todd insists he’ll be right to play against Wolverhampton next week, despite admitting his fitness is somewhat behind his Glory team-mates.
Newly-signed Perth defender Andy Todd insists he’ll be right to play against Wolverhampton next week, despite admitting his fitness is somewhat behind his Glory team-mates.
Former Blackburn skipper Todd arrived in Perth this week after leaving the United Kingdom, where he most recently played for Derby County in the Coca-Cola Championship, alongside fellow Glory recruit Mile Sterjovski.
Speaking after his first full Glory training session on Friday, Todd said he’d be fit to play against Wolves despite only having a week to prepare.
“I’m behind the boys here so I’m playing catch-up,” Todd admitted after spending extra time on the track with Glory Strength and Conditioning Coach Peter Cklamovski.
“I trained yesterday and today and I’m looking to build that again up on Monday.
“In England you usually have a game after a week or 10 days. I’ve been doing a little bit of training on my own so it’ll be okay in a week’s time (for Wolves).”
Todd said his new team-mates had made him feel welcome already, but admitted the time difference was still catching up with him.
“I only landed on Monday so I’m just adjusting to the time difference,” he said.
“But it’s been good. The boys have made me very welcome and I’m just trying to do as well as I can for the club and hopefully we can move forward.”
The Perth Glory players will no doubt be looking to their new team mate for some advise on their upcoming match against Wolverhampton Wanderers with Todd only tackling the newly promoted Premier League outfit a couple of months before in the English Championship.
“I played them towards the end of my career at Derby, got beaten 3-2, so it’ll be a good game for us (Glory),” he said.
“I-m looking forward to playing in the game and I-d happily give any advice I can to the boys and the coaching staff if they want it.”
Glory coach Dave Mitchell said it was exciting watching his squad come together ahead of the fifth Hyundai A-League season, adding the injection of quality players would only spur on the remainder of the squad.
“Andy-s been the player’s player at Blackburn Rovers so he gets on well with the players and staff. He’s a great find for the club,” Mitchell said.
“I think the training and the tempo will be lifting in the next few weeks once all the new players start arriving.
“When you have good players it’s a knock on effect, other players want to show to those players that they’re good players in their own right.
“So it’s great when you’ve got some players that have that respect and have played at the highest level in the Premier League like Andy’s has done.”
While Todd has made the move half way around the world there will be some familiar faces amongst his new team mates with Sterjovski also transferring to the Glory after playing for the Rams last season.
“I know Mile and just recently met Jacob,” Todd added, referring to another recent Perth signing, Jacob Burns.
“Both played in England and they’re two good players.
“Obviously Mile and I had tough times at Derby so we’re looking to get that bad taste out of our mouth here.
“It was a good decision to make the move to Perth and I have a positive feeling about the club and the season,” Todd said.
See Perth Glory-s new recruits in action at the International ‘Football Feast-
Click here to buy tickets from www.ticketmaster.com.au or call 136 100.
Match details
Friday, 10 July 2009
Perth Glory v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Members Equity Stadium, 7.30pm
* A special celebrity match featuring former Glory greats and Perth celebs kicks-off at 6.10pm
Wednesday, 15 July 2009 – Double Header
Wolverhampton Wanderers v North Queensland Fury (kick-off 5.15pm)
Perth Glory v Fulham (kick-off 8.00pm)
Members Equity Stadium
