Perth Glory defender David Tarka has set himself for a flying finish this season and has vowed to regain the form that has seen him earn two Socceroos caps and praise as one of Australia’s most talented football prospects.
Perth Glory defender David Tarka has set himself for a flying finish this season and has vowed to regain the form that has seen him earn two Socceroos caps and praise as one of Australia-s most talented football prospects.
Tarka is back at full pace after carefully negotiating his way back from a quadriceps injury that curtailed his impact in the early stages this season and says in hindsight he shouldn-t have attempted to play through the pain after receiving the injury in the opening round.
The club’s 2006/07 Most Glorious player spent last season on the sidelines with torn hamstring and was desperate to be back out on the pitch at any cost but acknowledged it wasn-t the right path to take.
“I missed a year of football with the hamstring last year and you come into a new season and you aggravate something and you think ‘well I-ve ripped a hamstring off the bone so the quad can-t be that hard to come back from-,” Tarka said.
“The new injury was quite minor compared to the other one and you just think you can push through it and that wasn-t the case which was frustrating.”
It was an injury the big defender continued to aggravate each time he kicked a ball which in turn affected restricted his mobility. The problem coming at a time Glory-s back four was desperate for experience with a foot injury to Hayden Foxe and Dino Djulbic’s suspension combining to leave the club shorthanded.
“My performances at the start of the year weren’t to the level that I’d like,” Tarka said
“I would like to think that the quad had a major bearing on that.
“I know the potential that I’ve got and the capacity that I can play at and I wasn’t reaching that,” he said.
“You want to play, you put your hand up, your team needs you and I guess I was letting myself down and letting the team down so I-ve taken the time now to get it right and be 100%.”
A month off has ensured he-s back to peak fitness and the 25 year old is ready to once again contribute to the Glory’s backline as the club pushes for a maiden finals berth over the last ten rounds.
“Even if you-re not playing you-ve got to be there pushing the starting eleven. There are a lot of young players here as well that need support, so I see there is a big role to play,” he said.
Tarka said claims of a rift between himself and coach Dave Mitchell were totally unfounded, with form and fitness the sole reasons he hadn-t played in the senior side since round six.
“It was a kick in the teeth and really disappointing that it came out as it did,” said Tarka.
“As far as I’m concerned there was nothing to sort out (with Mitchell).
“People were questioning my commitment to the team but when you’re carrying an injury that people don’t know about, you can’t compete at the level you want to.
“For me individually, I felt I was trying (but) I felt that my body was letting me down.
“So I’ve taken the time off to really settle it right down and it feels strong so I’m looking forward to enjoying my football and getting out and playing to the capacity I know I can.”
Tarka will take some part in a match this weekend, whether that-s with Glory-s A-League side or the Youth Team is still to be determined, but regardless of where he plays he knows it-s the first step to finding his way back to the top.
