Stoke City: Mama Sidibe ready to launch new comeback
MAMA Sidibe is ready to join Stoke City's first day of pre-season training on Thursday after winning the latest in a long line of battles for his fitness.
But the 32-year-old striker is still not sure when he can play his first friendly after failing to kick a ball in anger since being sidelined last October with a dislocated left knee.
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Stoke City's Mama Sidibe
Sidibe is back at the Britannia after spending the last six weeks in the south of France at a rehabilitation camp alongside the likes of William Gallas and Louis Saha.
He said: "I should be all right to do all the running with the other players.
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"To be ready for pre-season training was the most important thing for me because it will be my first pre-season for many years.
"It went really well in France and I worked really hard in building up the strength of the muscles in my leg.
"The leg is strong, but I have to make sure it is stronger than when I made my last comeback."
Sidibe, who is under contract until next summer, last saw action in a reserve game at Port Vale eight-and-a-half months ago when he collapsed in agony with his knee injury.
But that was just the latest in a long line of cruel blows that left him considering retirement.
In the last three years, the former Mali international has also suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury and twice snapped an Achilles tendon.
He hasn't played first-team football since the 2-1 home defeat by Tottenham in August 2010.
Now he will aim to come through the rigours of pre-season physical work over the next week before testing out the strength of his legs when the squad start working with the ball.
He will then sit down with manager Tony Pulis and discuss the possibility of featuring in the first pre-season friendly against FC Sion in Switzerland on July 19.
Failing that, there then follows three games in America on Stoke's trip across the Atlantic to play in Columbus, Orlando and Kansas.
"I haven't done any ball work yet," Sidibe continued, "but hopefully that will come very soon.
"That will be the next big step for me. I will have to see how that goes and then we can think about playing a game.
"Maybe it will be in Switzerland, maybe in America, I do not know yet."
Sidibe mixed his rehabilitation with keeping half-an-eye on Euro 2012 – but not on Stoke's transfer dealings.
"I know at Stoke we always take players late in pre-season, so I haven't really been looking at that yet.
"It would be good to see more players like Peter Crouch and Jonathan Woodgate coming in because they are great players to train with.
"Of course I was supporting France at the Euros because I grew up there, but it was disappointing they didn't go further.
"But the best team won because Spain are playing the best football."
Comments
by Latthink
Wednesday, July 18 2012, 9:20PM
“I reckon this is all a "wind-up" promoted by Pulis to distract genuine City fans from the lack of transfer activity currently on offer!
From what I have seen so far he will have the Begging Bowl out next.
Mamas possible inclusion in any City team must be the biggest turn off yet to be suffered by the other players!”
by Davejjohnson
Wednesday, July 18 2012, 9:10PM
“I conclude from that comment Knob that even you don't agree with the rubbish you write then.”
by soccerfoot11
Wednesday, July 18 2012, 1:25PM
“they really just dont get it do they ?? Wow, unbelievable.
But they give themselves a green arrow though to show they agree, with THEMSELVES
too funny !”
by Davejjohnson
Wednesday, July 18 2012, 8:27AM
“Pathetic.”
by soccerfoot11
Tuesday, July 17 2012, 9:15PM
“stoked, you are begging the very clowns that persist in giving me all this unwanted attention! but keep trying, maybe YOU can make them ignore me !!”
by soccerfoot11
Tuesday, July 17 2012, 9:05PM
“Oracle, at this point in his career its best he drop down a league and stay there”
by Stoke_Oracle
Tuesday, July 17 2012, 8:43PM
“JT...Yes,fair points. But it's a big if....What if he came on against Reading with Jerome and Jones on the bench and he missed a sitter? First scenario is Roy of the Rovers stuff. Fact remains he's no where near as fit or as good as the forwards we already have. Surely that must be fact? .He'd be better dropping down a league or 2 and working his confidence back up from there”
by soccerfoot11
Tuesday, July 17 2012, 7:47PM
“if we are drawing 1-1 with Reading and Mama Sidibe is brought on at any point in that match, something is really really wrong somewhere !!!”
by JTFLINT2009
Tuesday, July 17 2012, 6:03PM
“Oracle, just a small question: If you believe he has lost his confidence and wouldn't attract offers, then a contract extension in itself should be a decent shot in the arm for him. If he gets any game time next/this season then after all his injuries then he should be high and riding! My point is, supposing we're drawing 1-1 against Reading on match-day one and he comes on in added time and scores a goal. Afterwards a League One or Two side comes in for him. Would you begrudge him the chance to get that move as long as it was a win-win for us, points-wise and financially? For the record if the above happens I will be surprised, but the principle remains. Three league games plus a cup match(?) before the transfer window shuts. If he can impress suitors before the end of the window in some capacity then he may be on his way, having had a full pre-season behind him and maybe the odd few minutes on the pitch.”
by Stoke_Oracle
Tuesday, July 17 2012, 4:57PM
“When he was having his bad spell, I saw him blatantly move away and step back from a cross that he could have connected with because he'd lost the confidence in front of goal so it looked like it was out of his reach. I was right behind the goal. Saw it again on match of the day... Never had confidence in him since. Get rid to a 1st div side. Although can't see the offers streaming in from any division really! Nice guy, but so what.... no room for sentiment in the prem I'm afraid especially for Stoke who need new players not old crocked ones !!!!”